Bishop Carlos Garcia Camader said on Wednesday that a visit by Pope Leo to Peru is highly likely later this year, putting the probability at roughly 80 percent. Speaking at a press conference in Lima, Garcia said the trip would most likely take place in November or during the first week of December.
The pope, identified as the former U.S. Cardinal Robert Prevost, has deep ties to Peru. He spent decades serving in the country and was initially ordained a bishop for the diocese of Chiclayo in the northwest. According to Garcia, Pope Leo became a Peruvian citizen in 2015.
Garcia framed the prospect of a visit as both significant and popular, saying it was expected to draw large crowds to see a pontiff who has long-standing connections to the nation. At the same press event, he made light of the itinerary by saying that while the chances of a Peruvian trip were 80 percent, the likelihood that the pope would visit Chiclayo during any such trip was, in his words, 100 percent.
The comments followed a trip by Garcia and most of the country’s bishops to Rome last week for a series of meetings with Vatican officials. Those gatherings are normally held every five years. Garcia said the pope surprised the delegation by inviting them to lunch, a gesture he described as an unusual honour.
Beyond the timing and the pope’s personal connection to Peru, Garcia did not provide additional details about the planned itinerary, specific events, or arrangements for the expected large gatherings. He also did not state whether formal confirmation of the visit would be issued and when that might occur.
The announcement underscores the continued public interest in a papal return to a country where the pontiff spent a substantial portion of his clerical career and where he retains ties through citizenship and early episcopal service.
Contextual note: The information presented here reflects statements made by Bishop Carlos Garcia Camader at a Lima press conference and descriptions of recent meetings between Peruvian bishops and Vatican officials in Rome.