The Government declared the visit of
as well as his activities, meetings, and related preparatory events to be held during the second half of 2026, a matter of national interest.
The Council of Ministers' agreement of August 12 was made official through Supreme Decree No. 037-2026-RE, published in the Legal Regulations bulletin of the Official Gazette El Peruano.
The legal provision stipulates the creation of the High-Level Extraordinary Commission "Visit of His Holiness Pope Leo XIV" (hereinafter, the High-Level Commission).
It will comprise all Cabinet ministers and be chaired by Foreign Affairs Minister Carlos Espa.
That working group will be in charge of determining the guidelines, strategies, and actions necessary to ensure Peru's successful organization of His Holiness' visit.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs will serve as the national coordinator for the preparation, organization, as well as administrative and logistical management of the Supreme Pontiff's visit to Peru in the cities of Lima, Chiclayo, Cusco, and Pucallpa.
The functions assigned to the national coordinator are ad honorem and will remain in force until the conclusion of Pope Leo XIV's visit.
Additionally, it establishes that within thirty (30) business days following the conclusion of the visit, the national coordinator will submit a detailed report on the activities carried out to the President of the Republic.
The ministers serving on the High-Level Commission may appoint their representatives, who may participate in the commission's sessions.
In order to fulfill its objectives and functions, the High-Level Commission, through its Technical Secretariat, may invite the regional and local governments of the jurisdictions where the official activities of His Holiness' visit will take place so as to coordinate and align the corresponding actions within their respective areas of authority.
The Supreme Decree bears the signatures of President Keiko Fujimori, Prime Minister Luis Galarreta, and Cabinet ministers.
(END) RMCH/MVB