Pope Leo XIV continues to set the pace of his pontificate with an intense agenda that combines closeness to the faithful, openness to new geographical horizons, and firmness on doctrinal matters. In recent weeks, the Holy Father has been involved in several events that paint a picture of a pontiff seeking to consolidate his leadership in both the pastoral and institutional spheres.
The Vatican has officially confirmed Pope Leo XIV's first apostolic journey to South America, a trip that has generated great anticipation in the countries he will visit. Furthermore, his participation in the Franciscan Youth Encounter in Assisi has served to deliver a message of hope and renewal to the younger generations, in a context of profound social and ecclesial changes.
A historical journey to South America
The Holy See has released the program for the Pope's first Latin American tour, which will take place from November 6 to 17. The itinerary includes visits to Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru, three countries that are enthusiastically welcoming the arrival of the successor of Peter. According to the director of the Vatican Press Office, Matteo Bruni, the Pope will visit Montevideo, Paysandú, and Florida in Uruguay; Buenos Aires, Córdoba, and Luján in Argentina; and Lima, Chiclayo, Cusco, and Pucallpa in Peru.
The news has been received with particular enthusiasm in Argentina, where President Javier Milei has described the trip as "a historic event for all Argentinians." The presidential office emphasized that the presence of Leo XIV will allow for "the renewal of the historic ties between the Argentine Republic and the Holy See," stressing that the Pope will be received "with the honor and hospitality befitting the successor of Saint Peter." The Argentine Episcopal Conference also issued a statement inviting all communities to prepare for this encounter, which they consider an opportunity to "rediscover the joy of walking together."
This trip holds special significance because it fulfills a wish that Pope Francis was never able to realize: to visit his homeland as Pontiff. The relationship between Milei and the previous Pope was tense at times, but the current president has moderated his criticism and adopted a more conciliatory approach toward the Holy See. In this sense, Leo XIV's visit represents a bridge between the Church and a government that has maintained close ties with evangelical churches.
Assisi, heart of Franciscan youth
The Italian city of Assisi has once again witnessed a historic event with the presence of Pope Leo XIV at the Franciscan Youth Encounter 'Let's Go! 2026'. This event, framed within the commemoration of the eighth centenary of the death of Saint Francis of Assisi, has brought together thousands of young people from all over Europe, transforming the Umbrian town into a hotbed of faith and enthusiasm.
During his address, the Pope delivered a powerful message against the "culture of force" and urged young people to "tear down the walls that separate human beings from one another." Leo XIV recalled that "in Assisi, everything whispers to us that our lives can be transformed, radiate light, and heal the world," encouraging those present not to remain mere spectators of history, but to become agents of change.
The Augustinian Pope answered questions from several young people, addressing topics such as Christian witness in a secularized world, vocation, and the perception of the Church as a mother. When asked how to say a radical "yes" to God, the Pontiff shared his personal experience, affirming that "the Lord has never abandoned me" and that in his vocation he has found "a kind of light that has guided me to this day." He also acknowledged that "many people have not been able to experience the Church as Jesus Christ wants it to be," which causes suffering and hurt, but he insisted that "Jesus' desire is to gather a people in which what usually divides human beings is overcome."
Steadfastness in liturgical unity
On the doctrinal front, the Vatican has sought to put an end to any speculation about a possible change in the liturgical policy inherited from Francis. Cardinal Arthur Roche, prefect of the Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, confirmed in an interview with the British Catholic magazine 'The Tablet' that "Pope Leo is not going to change 'Traditionis Custodes'." This statement dashes the hopes of traditionalist groups who had been counting on a revision of the motu proprio promulgated in 2021.
Roche explained that the Eucharist is "a sacrament of unity" and that "if it begins to divide us, something is very wrong." The cardinal recalled that Leo XIV himself had to take disciplinary measures against the Society of Saint Pius X , known as the Lefebvrists, after the consecration of four bishops without papal authorization. This decision demonstrates the Pope's determination to maintain the liturgical reform of the Second Vatican Council as the sole expression of the 'lex orandi' of the Roman Rite.
According to information obtained by this newspaper, the document that Roche distributed to the cardinals during the extraordinary consistory in January was drafted at the Pope's own request, who personally oversaw its revision. "He didn't change a single comma," Vatican sources assert, interpreting this action as a way of making the new Pope's position on this issue clear. Despite pressure from some quarters, the second consistory held in June confirmed that liturgy is not a matter of concern for the vast majority of the Church.
Prayer for cities and significant encounters
The Pope's prayer intention for August has focused on the evangelization of cities, a theme the Pontiff considers fundamental in our time. In a world where large cities increasingly concentrate population but also more loneliness and anonymity, Leo XIV has called for the transformation of urban spaces into welcoming communities "where no one feels invisible."
The 'Pray with the Pope' campaign, launched by the Worldwide Prayer Network, has disseminated the Holy Father's message, which addresses the "Good Shepherd" to walk through streets and squares, entering both the tallest buildings and the humblest neighborhoods. The Pope acknowledges that cities, meant to be spaces of freedom and opportunity, can also become places marked by isolation. According to United Nations data, nearly 45% of the world's population lives in urban areas, and loneliness particularly affects young people, 35% of whom admit that this feeling impacts their daily lives.
In other news, on the morning of Friday, July 31, the Pope received in private audience the American singer-songwriter, poet, and artist Patti Smith, a native of Chicago like the Pontiff himself. Smith, who inaugurated the Holy See Pavilion at the Venice Biennale with a sound prayer, has maintained a special relationship with the Vatican since the time of Francis. This meeting, though discreet, reflects Leo XIV's openness to dialogue with the world of culture and art.
With all these actions, Pope Leo XIV is shaping a pontificate that seeks to balance tradition with renewal, closeness to the faithful with doctrinal firmness, and attention to global problems with care for local communities. His first trip to South America, his presence among young people in Assisi, his defense of liturgical unity, and his concern for cities are all pieces of the same pastoral project, which aims to position the Catholic Church as a relevant actor in the contemporary world.
The combination of these elements paints a picture of a Pope who, without fanfare, is forging his own path at the helm of the universal Church. The Catholic community, both in Europe and the Americas, is watching these first months of a pontificate with keen interest, a pontificate that promises to be decisive for the future of the institution. The visit to South America will undoubtedly be a litmus test to gauge the reception the new Pope receives among the faithful of a region that has historically been a bastion of global Catholicism.
