Pope receives invitation to visit Peru and joins embassy lunch

Peru's ambassador publicly invited Pope Leo XIV to visit Peru during a Vatican garden ceremony, and the pope remained afterward for a buffet lunch with Peruvian diplomats and bishops.

Peru's ambassador to the Holy See publicly invited Pope Leo XIV to visit Peru during a ceremony in the Vatican gardens that inaugurated a Peruvian-sponsored mosaic and statue of the Virgin Mary. The invitation came as 2026 is being discussed as a busy travel year for the pope, with possible trips under study for parts of Africa and Latin America. Leo has said he hopes to visit countries in Africa and has also spoken of visiting Argentina, Uruguay and Peru in 2026 or 2027. The pope lived in Peru for about two decades as a missionary and holds Peruvian citizenship. Event details: - The invitation was made by Peru's new ambassador to the Vatican, Jorge Ponce San Roman, at the garden ceremony. - All of Peru's bishops attended the ceremony and the ambassador expressed the wish to see the pope in Peru soon. - After brief remarks in which Leo recalled Peru as "such a beloved country to me," he stayed for a buffet lunch organized by the Peruvian Embassy. - The pope spent about an hour sitting with the ambassador and Peruvian bishops near the catering area while pisco sours and plates of ravioli with huancaina were being served. - Vatican officials say plans for possible papal trips are under study and no dates have been announced. Summary: The invitation and the pope's extended presence at the lunch offered a relaxed, personal note amid discussions about upcoming international trips. Undetermined at this time.