# Pope Leo’s South America Tour

> Pope Leo XIV’s 12-day South America trip highlights political engagement amid regional shifts.
- Title: Pope Leo’s South America Tour · Foreign Policy | Shortify
- Summary: Pope Leo XIV’s 12-day South America trip highlights political engagement amid regional shifts.
- Keywords: pope leo xiv, south america, uruguay, argentina, peru, ibero american summit, el niño, catholic church, multilateralism, javier milei, chile, atacama desert
- Source: Foreign Policy — https://foreignpolicy.com/2026/11/13/pope-leo-south-america-trip-argentina-peru-uruguay
- Author: Catherine Osborn
- Read time: 2 min
- Topics: pope leo xiv, south america, uruguay, argentina, peru, ibero american summit, el niño, catholic church, multilateralism, javier milei, chile, atacama desert
## 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.
## Key takeaway

Pope Leo XIV’s 12-day South America tour emphasizes social welfare and multilateralism as U.S. foreign policy grows more unilateral.