Pope Leo to end Argentina visit with mass before Peru homecoming

Pope Leo is concluding his three-day visit to Argentina with a large outdoor mass at the shrine of Our Lady of Lujan, Argentina's most important Catholic devotional site, according to France 24 English. The mass is expected to draw millions of pilgrims who have gathered to see him.

This event marks the end of Pope Leo's visit to Argentina during his 12-day South America tour. After the mass, he will travel to Peru, where he served as a missionary for about 20 years before becoming pope last year, according to France 24.

The pope's visit to Peru is described as an emotional homecoming since he is the first Peruvian citizen to lead the Catholic Church. The visit will include a speech in front of Peruvian President Keiko Fujimori, whose election earlier this year was controversial amid fraud accusations and vote-counting delays, according to France 24.

During his Argentina visit, Pope Leo also visited one of the country's largest penitentiaries, highlighting his focus on marginalized groups. The Church has criticized President Javier Milei's cuts to social programs, as reported by France 24.

Pope Leo holds US and Peruvian citizenship and is undertaking what is described as the most intense overseas trip by a pope in decades, with the Peru visit expected to include emotional scenes as he returns to the place he served as a missionary.