From Foreign Policy · Catherine Osborn · · 2m
Pope Leo’s South America Tour
Pope Leo XIV’s 12-day South America trip highlights political engagement amid regional shifts.
In brief
Pope Leo XIV’s 12-day South America trip highlights political engagement amid regional shifts. Pope Leo XIV’s 12-day South America tour emphasizes social welfare and multilateralism as U.S. foreign policy grows more unilateral. Originally reported by Foreign Policy.
Pope Leo XIV’s South America Tour Begins
Pope Leo XIV started a 12-day tour through South America last Friday, visiting Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru.
Political Reception in Argentina
Pope Leo XIV called for strong social welfare policies, contrasting with President Javier Milei’s austerity measures.
Pope Leo’s Multilateralism Focus
Pope Leo XIV emphasizes the Catholic Church’s role as a guardian for multilateralism amid U.S. unilateralism.
Pope Leo’s Small States Strategy
Pope Leo XIV highlights the importance of small states in international relations, citing Uruguay’s civic traditions.
Uruguay’s Civic Traditions
Pope Leo XIV praised Uruguay’s strong civic and diplomatic traditions during his welcome ceremony in Montevideo.
Catholic Population Decline
Latin America’s Catholic population dropped from 80 percent in 1995 to 55 percent today, slowing in the last half decade.
Pope Leo’s Political Impact
Pope Leo XIV’s visit to Argentina generated national ‘collective empathy’ and strong public support.
El Niño Effects in Chile
Chile’s Atacama Desert experienced bright pink, purple, and yellow desert blooms due to El Niño weather irregularities.
Regional Climate Challenges
Bolivia declared a state of emergency due to severe droughts linked to El Niño, while Chile faced 13 deaths from a storm.
Ibero-American Summit
Seven Latin American leaders attended the 30th Ibero-American Summit in Madrid on November 5, 2026.
Right-Wing Alignment with U.S.
Most Latin American presidents at the summit were right-wing leaders aligned with U.S. President Donald Trump.
Bolivia’s Strategic Proposal
Bolivian President Rodrigo Paz proposed creating an Ibero-American ‘center for strategic and security thinking’ in Bolivia.
Regional Trade Shifts
Since the Mercosur-EU trade deal took effect in May, Brazil’s exports to the European Union rose by 30 percent.
Pope Leo’s Next Steps
Pope Leo XIV will return to his adopted hometown of Chiclayo in Peru after completing his South America tour.
At a glance
Pope Leo XIV’s 12-day South America tour emphasizes social welfare and multilateralism as U.S. foreign policy grows more unilateral.
