Pope Leo XIV will be in Cusco on Sunday, November 15, 2026. The official programme confirms a meeting at Saqsaywaman and the Angelus in front of Cusco Cathedral before he continues to Pucallpa. This guide covers the times, full Peru itinerary and access details still awaiting confirmation.
Updated September 29, 2026. The Holy See has published the definitive programme for Pope Leo XIV’s visit. He will be in Peru from November 11 to 16, 2026, visiting Lima, Chiclayo, Santa Cruz, Zaña, Cusco and Pucallpa.
When will Pope Leo XIV be in Cusco?
He will arrive from Chiclayo on Sunday, November 15, at 10:00 a.m., meet the faithful at Saqsaywaman at 10:30 a.m., pray the Angelus at the Cathedral at 11:45 a.m. and leave for Pucallpa at 1:05 p.m. His official stay lasts about three hours.
Official Cusco schedule
| Time | Activity | Place |
|---|---|---|
| 10:00 a.m. | Arrival and welcome | Alejandro Velasco Astete Airport |
| 10:30 a.m. | Meeting with the faithful and representatives of popular piety | Saqsaywaman |
| 11:45 a.m. | Angelus | In front of Cusco Cathedral |
| 1:05 p.m. | Departure for Pucallpa | Cusco airport |
No papal Mass is scheduled in Cusco. Sunday’s Mass will take place in Pucallpa at 4:45 p.m.
What will happen at Saqsaywaman?
The 10:30 a.m. event is a meeting with communities, shrines, confraternities and traditional devotions, not a Mass. Cusco’s Directorate of Culture says officials have inspected pedestrian and vehicle access, circulation, gathering areas, the platform, emergency points and evacuation routes to protect visitors and the archaeological site. Saqsaywaman and Sacsayhuamán are names for the same park.
Angelus at Cusco Cathedral
At 11:45 a.m. the Pope will pray the Angelus in front of the Cathedral Basilica in the Main Square. Final public zones and road closures have not been announced, so travelers should not assume the entire square will be freely accessible.
Full official Peru itinerary
- Nov. 11, Lima: 5:30 p.m. arrival; Government Palace welcome and presidential visit; 7:45 p.m. meeting at the National Grand Theater.
- Nov. 12, Lima: bishops at 9:30 a.m.; prayer in Lima Cathedral at 10:20; public meeting at 11:30; youth vigil at Estadio Monumental at 6:00 p.m.
- Nov. 13, Chiclayo/Pimentel: 10:30 a.m. Mass; Saint Óscar Romero Chapel; clergy meeting at 4:30 p.m.; university meeting at 5:45 p.m.
- Nov. 14, Chiclayo/Santa Cruz/Zaña: Marian crowning at 8:00 a.m.; Mass in Santa Cruz at 11:00; prayer meeting in Zaña at 5:30 p.m.
- Nov. 15, Cusco/Pucallpa: Cusco events from 10:00 a.m.; Amazonian meeting at 3:00 p.m.; Mass in Pucallpa at 4:45 p.m.; return to Lima at 8:20 p.m.
- Nov. 16, Lima: care-home visit at 8:30 a.m.; Mass at Las Palmas Air Base at 10:30; farewell at 1:15 p.m.; departure for Rome at 1:45 p.m., arriving November 17.
Tickets, QR codes, capacity and access
The Peruvian Episcopal Conference says all events will be free. As of September 29, registration, passes or QR codes for Saqsaywaman were still being assessed. No admission is being sold: do not pay for alleged tickets or use unofficial forms. Capacity, checkpoints, permitted items, opening times and road closures remain pending.
Travel advice
- Arrive before November 15 and book flexible flights and hotels.
- Avoid a full-day tour on Sunday because access may be restricted.
- Allow extra time for the airport and train station.
- Wait for the official access plan; ignore social-media rumors.
- Acclimatize at 3,399 metres and bring rain protection, warm layers, sunscreen and water.
- Respect Saqsaywaman’s paths, barriers and archaeological walls.
Plan a Cusco City Tour, the Sacred Valley or Machu Picchu before or after November 15.
Official sources
Times come from the Holy See’s official programme. Follow the official Peru visit portal and Cusco Culture access report. This page will be updated when capacity, registration and traffic plans are released.
GT Peru Travel editorial team
Travel news · GT Peru Travel · Cusco, Peru
Information verified by our Cusco-based team using official sources.
