A Historic Visit After Nearly Four Decades
Argentina is preparing with joy and deep anticipation to welcome Pope Leo XIV on his first pastoral tour of South America. The Supreme Pontiff, elected on May 8, 2025, will be in the country between November 8 and 11, 2026, marking a milestone as the first papal visit to Argentine soil since the apostolic journey of John Paul II in 1987.
The planned itinerary includes three key stops in Argentina: Buenos Aires, Luján, and Córdoba. Prior to that, Leo XIV will visit Uruguay (November 6–8) and will then travel to Peru, completing a tour that promises messages of social justice, peace, and hope.
For international readers unfamiliar with Argentina's geography: Buenos Aires is the nation's capital and largest city, located on the western shore of the Río de la Plata estuary. Luján is a historic city about 70 kilometers (43 miles) west of Buenos Aires, home to the Basilica of Our Lady of Luján, the country's most important Marian shrine and a major pilgrimage destination for millions of Catholics each year. Córdoba, Argentina's second-largest city, lies in the central region of the country and is known for its colonial architecture and vibrant university life.
The Central Role of an Entre Ríos Bishop in Luján
Bishop Mauricio Landra, born in the small town of Larroque in Argentina's Entre Ríos province and currently serving as auxiliary bishop of the Diocese of Mercedes-Luján, will play a leading role as host to the Pontiff. Landra will be among those responsible for receiving Leo XIV at the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Luján, one of the country's most important Catholic pilgrimage centers.
Landra received confirmation of the visit with 'great joy and gratitude' and explained that Luján's inclusion in the itinerary is due to its spiritual significance. He also highlighted the Pope's connection to Latin America, particularly his pastoral work in Peru. The bishop also drew attention to the Pope's stop in Paysandú, Uruguay, a city across the Uruguay River from the Argentine town of Colón (Entre Ríos), which could prompt a movement of faithful on both sides of the river.
This cross-border dynamic is notable because Paysandú and Colón are connected by the General Artigas Bridge, making it easy for Argentine pilgrims to travel to Uruguay to see the Pope, or for Uruguayans to cross into Argentina for the Luján events.
Luján Prepares for a Multitude Mass
The Archbishop of Mercedes-Luján, Jorge Eduardo Scheinig, announced that a stage will be set up outside the Basilica so the public can have direct contact with the Pontiff. An open-air Mass is planned, likely on November 11, the last day of the Argentine leg of the tour.
Local and Vatican authorities are already planning a massive security operation, similar to that of the annual Pilgrimage to Luján but on a larger scale. Among the special guests will be President Javier Milei and Buenos Aires Province Governor Axel Kicillof, who celebrated the announcement, saying that the Pope's message in defense of human dignity 'is very necessary for the homeland in these times.'
Residents and religious leaders of Luján are living these days with emotion, recalling the historic visit of John Paul II in 1982 during the Falklands War (known in Argentina as the Malvinas War), when the then-Pope traveled in the famous 'Pope's bus' instead of using an armored vehicle—a moment that remains etched in Argentine collective memory.
The Basilica of Luján, whose construction began in 1890 and was completed in 1935, is one of the largest churches in Latin America and draws over six million pilgrims annually. Its neo-Gothic architecture and the venerated image of the Virgin of Luján, a small clay figurine from the 17th century, make it a deeply symbolic site for Argentine Catholicism.
Contest for the Official Song
To celebrate this visit, the Argentine Episcopal Conference has launched a public call to select the official song that will accompany the Pope's journey. The musical piece must reflect values of solidarity, justice, and peace, with attention to the most vulnerable sectors.
- Registration: August 10 to September 10, 2026.
- Evaluation: September 11 to 22.
- Winner: To be announced September 24, 2026.
- Requirements: Original, 2 to 4 minutes long, in Spanish (indigenous languages also allowed).
- Artificial Intelligence: Allowed only for editing and mixing; prohibited for generating lyrics or cloning voices.
An Invitation to Reconnection
As various analysts and religious leaders point out, receiving the Pope 'is much more than waiting for a visit.' It is an invitation to make room, to open one's heart, and to reconnect as a society. Leo XIV comes as a pastor, and his central message will be directed to the Argentine people above any political differences, proposing a space of unity, listening, and fraternity.
Who Is Pope Leo XIV?
Born in Peru, Pope Leo XIV (formerly Cardinal Carlos Gustavo Castillo Mattasoglio) made history as the first Latin American pope in the modern era when he was elected on May 8, 2025, succeeding Pope Francis. His deep familiarity with the region's social realities and his pastoral emphasis on the peripheries have generated great expectations for this South American tour. His election was seen as a continuation of the Church's focus on the Global South, and this trip—his first to the continent—carries significant symbolic weight for millions of Catholics across Latin America.