Overview
- Pope Leo XIV received Peruvian President José María Balcázar at the Vatican on Thursday, June 18, and the two held a private audience followed by meetings at the Secretariat of State.
- After the meeting Balcázar announced a proposed papal trip to Peru in the first half of November lasting about eight to ten days, though the Holy See has not formally confirmed the visit.
- Balcázar said the tentative itinerary would include Lima, Piura, Chiclayo, Cusco and Pucallpa, with visits to Puno and Iquitos still under consideration and final plans subject to change.
- Vatican officials said talks were cordial and centered on shared concerns such as illegal mining, migration, organized crime and the promotion of social cohesion and the common good.
- Any formal announcement will depend on Vatican security and logistical reviews, and the visit would carry strong symbolic weight because Leo XIV lived and ministered in Peru for decades and holds Peruvian citizenship.