World Church · November 4, 2026
Augustinians in Peru prepare for Pope Leo XIV's visit
The Augustinian order in Peru is preparing for the upcoming visit of Pope Leo XIV, which is scheduled to take place from November 6 to 17 as part of the sixth international apostolic journey to Latin America. The visit will include stops in Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru, with the Peruvian leg holding particular significance for the religious community.
The presence of Augustinian friars in Peru dates back to 1574, when the first missionaries arrived in Lima. From the main monastery in Lima, the order expanded its work into Ecuador and Colombia. In 1901, at the request of Pope Leo XIII, a new mission was established in Iquitos, marking the beginning of the order's service in the Peruvian jungle. Further expansion occurred in the second half of the twentieth century. In 1963, at the invitation of Pope John XXIII, friars from the American provinces of Chicago and Villanova arrived in Chulucanas in the north of the country. Father Prevost belonged to the Chicago province at that time. Five years later, in 1968, Pope Paul VI directed Italian Augustinians to the highland region of Chuquibambilla. These efforts resulted in the order's presence in all three geographical areas of Peru: the jungle, the mountains, and the coast.
Currently, the Augustinians in Peru conduct diverse pastoral, educational, and medical activities. In Cusco, the parish of Saint Rita serves as a base for friars going on missions to Cotabambas and Chuquibambilla. In Chiclayo, the friars focus on education, running a school within the Augustinian province of Our Lady of Grace from Lima. Parish ministry and school work remain their primary apostolates in that region.
Preparations in Chiclayo have a festive atmosphere of anticipation. In July, Father Zambrano visited Bishop Edison Farfán after conducting retreats with missionaries in Cusco and the Chuquibambilla prelature. A special museum is being prepared in the city hall of Chiclayo to serve as a guide for visitors, highlighting the figure of the former bishop Robert Prevost. Renovation and painting work are also underway in the local cathedral. The field Mass, which the Pope will preside over, will be held near the ruins of the historic Augustinian monastery in Zaña.
Asked for a final message to listeners preparing to receive the Holy Father, the secretary of the institute pointed to the need for spiritual participation. He emphasized that it is key to receive the Pope with prayer and to listen attentively to his homilies and speeches. Father Zambrano encouraged listeners to hear the message of disarming peace with which he presented himself to the world. The friar stressed that the received message of the Gospel should lead the faithful to daily witness of faith, treated as a grace and a mission.