Pope Leo XIV addressed authorities, civil society, and the diplomatic corps at the National Theater in Lima on November 11, marking his first major address during his pastoral visit to Peru by urging regional cooperation and declaring that supporting families remains an essential part of daily peace.
For families, peace carries a very concrete meaning: “To work without fear, to take care of children, and to return home safely,” Pope Leo XIV said to the assembled representatives in Lima, as Vatican News reported.
The pontiff, who obtained Peruvian citizenship in 2015, is undertaking his sixth international pastoral journey as the successor of Peter, returning to a country where he previously served as a missionary and bishop for two decades.
The visit to Peru forms part of a broader 12-day Latin American journey that began earlier in the month. Before arriving in Lima, Pope Leo XIV traveled to Argentina on November 8, marking the first papal visit to the country in nearly 40 years, according to RFI. In Buenos Aires, the pontiff met with President Javier Milei amid local tensions surrounding economic austerity measures.
During his address in Lima, the pope emphasized that national unity solidifies when diverse groups find their proper place within society. He reminded public officials that loving one’s nation requires desiring a dignified life for everyone and treating politics as a high form of charity focused on the common good, drawing from the apostolic exhortation Evangelii Gaudium.
The pontiff also addressed the needs of marginalized populations, asserting that physical distance must never transform into oblivion. According to Vatican News, he called on institutions to actively listen to citizens, particularly those in remote areas, and urged society to foster integrity, honesty, and a willingness to encounter others.
Prior to his arrival in Peru, the pope held a gathering in Buenos Aires on November 9 focusing on religious traditions and human dignity. During that meeting at the San Martín Palace, he discussed how prayer and religious values protect human freedom and foster hope across generations, as reported by Radio Veritas Asia.
Shifting focus to practical governance, the pope urged authorities to utilize science and technology to predict natural phenomena and protect vulnerable populations from environmental risks. He said that safeguarding the environment and handling modern crises require robust international cooperation and ongoing diplomatic dialogue.
| Event Date | Location | Key Focus |
|---|---|---|
| November 8, 2026 | Buenos Aires, Argentina | Arrival for the second leg of the Latin American pastoral journey |
| November 9, 2026 | Buenos Aires, Argentina | Meeting with religious leaders on the theme of dialogue and friendship |
| November 11, 2026 | Lima, Peru | Address to authorities on family life, state cooperation, and peace |
“War and tensions cause much suffering to many people; these require patient diplomacy,” the pope said, emphasizing the necessity of respecting international law and protecting human dignity.
