An advance mission from the Vatican will arrive in Lima on October 26 to review and finalize preparations for Pope Leo XIV’s encounter with the Peruvian people, said today, Monsignor Guillermo Inca, the national coordinator for this major Catholic event.
“These preparations cover security, liturgy, and logistics”, he stated.
Speaking to the online channel of the Andina news agency, the representative of the Catholic Church explained that this will be the third advance mission to arrive in Peru.
Its objective is to confirm progress made, inspect the venues planned for the papal activities, and settle the final details ahead of the pontiff’s arrival.
“This advance group is very important because it comes to finalize what has already been worked on during the two previous missions. All the locations were visited, all the venues were reviewed, and—with the help of the second mission—adjustments were made to sites that were not ideal. This group is here to finalize everything,” stated Monsignor Inca.
He further noted that the initial group will consist of eight people, with additional members arriving later from Uruguay, bringing the total to between 10 and 12 individuals. Most of them will remain in Peru throughout the Holy Father’s visit.
Monsignor Guillermo Inca indicated that, as of now, the original plans remain in place, and he expressed confidence that the Holy Father will be able to carry out his scheduled agenda.
He also encouraged the public to continue their prayers and to prepare a warm welcome.
“We love him, and he cares for us a great deal,” he said, highlighting the faith and hope of the people in anticipation of the Pope’s arrival.
Security, liturgy, and logistics
Monsignor Inca emphasized that the preparations encompass essential aspects to ensure the smooth execution of the scheduled activities, including the security of the pontiff, the organization of liturgical celebrations, and general logistics.
He noted that as the date of the visit approaches, both the excitement and the coordination efforts required to welcome Pope Leo XIV in the best possible way are intensifying.
“We are almost exactly three weeks away; excitement is growing, but so is the work, as we must ensure everything is prepared so that we can welcome the Holy Father as he deserves—just like one of our own, like a Peruvian,” he stated.
The cleric also highlighted the special bond the Pontiff shares with the country, which he considers his home, and whose people view him as a member of their own family.
“The Pope feels that Peru is his home, his family, and we, in turn, consider him part of our own home,” he remarked.
At another point, Monsignor Inca addressed the health of Pope Leo XIV, emphasizing the importance of prayer and the closeness of the faithful during his recovery process.
“We are in the month of the Lord of Miracles—a time of faith, trust, and a deepening of our commitment to God. I believe this encourages us to remain hopeful for the Supreme Pontiff’s recovery, which we are already witnessing. The power of prayer is, in my view, undeniable,” he affirmed.
He added that, according to communications with those working in Rome and the commission overseeing the visit, His Holiness remains serene and committed, while preparations continue to move forward.
“We sense that he is very serene, calm, and committed. We have not stopped [our preparations]; we are moving forward with the details and continuing to refine everything that was planned,” he indicated.
Jubilee Year of Saint Turibius of Mogrovejo
Furthermore, the arrival of Pope Leo XIV will coincide with the Jubilee Year marking the 300th anniversary of the canonization of Saint Turibius of Mogrovejo, who was proclaimed a saint on December 10, 1726, by Pope Benedict XIII. In this regard, the ecclesiastical authority highlighted the figure of the saint—who was designated patron of the Latin American episcopate by Saint John Paul II—describing him as a model for evangelization and pastoral commitment.
Monsignor Inca noted significant parallels between the evangelizing work of Saint Turibius and that of Pope Leo XIV, particularly in terms of their missionary vocation, their closeness to the people, and their dedication to the humblest among them.
According to the priest, both figures share a commitment to reaching out to the most remote communities and accompanying those in greatest need.
As the official in charge of Pope Leo XIV’s visit to Peru, Monsignor Inca invited the faithful to continue praying for the pontiff and to take part in the large-scale gatherings that have been scheduled.
“Let us continue to pray that no shadow may dim the light we look forward to receiving through the Holy Father’s visit. Many thanks to everyone who is working to make this happen. Let us participate in these large-scale gatherings,” he stated.
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Published: 10/20/2026