The route focuses on Pope Leo XIV’s ties to the city of Trujillo, where he spent part of his religious formation and carried out pastoral work before taking on international responsibilities within the Vatican. Although his papacy is relatively recent, his life path, full of symbolism and humility, has left a mark on many Peruvian communities. As such, the tour will include historical churches, residences where he lived, religious training centers, and pastoral spaces that were part of his life and mission in the region.
Beyond offering a profound spiritual experience, this tourism initiative is conceived as an economic development tool for the participating communities. César Acuña, the regional governor of La Libertad, stated that the project will generate direct and indirect employment in sectors such as transportation, gastronomy, handicrafts, tour guiding, and lodging services. He also emphasized the opportunity it represents to revalue the region’s religious and cultural heritage by integrating it into a sustainable tourism circuit with international quality standards.
From the Church’s side, Archbishop Miguel Cabrejos Vidarte expressed great enthusiasm for the project and reaffirmed the archdiocese’s commitment to actively supporting its development. Cabrejos, who also serves as president of the Latin American Episcopal Council (CELAM), pointed out that this initiative not only honors the memory of a figure who served the universal Church with humility, but also provides a new form of evangelization through tourism.
According to projections from the Regional Bureau of Foreign Trade, Tourism, and Handicrafts, the route is expected to attract approximately 48,000 visitors in its first year, including both domestic and international tourists. The economic impact on the local economy is expected to be significant, with a projected increase of more than 25% in demand for tourism services in the area. International media interest and attention from tour operators specializing in religious tourism are also anticipated, potentially positioning Trujillo as one of South America’s emerging pilgrimage destinations.
The route's design and promotion have benefited from the guidance of cultural and religious tourism experts, and from the support of the World Network of Religious Tourism, an organization that promotes the value of destinations connected to spirituality and faith worldwide. This collaboration has helped ensure that the project incorporates standards of accessibility, sustainability, and technological innovation, such as multilingual audio guides, smart signage, and digital platforms for booking guided tours.
The initiative is part of Peru’s broader effort to diversify its tourism offerings beyond traditional destinations like Machu Picchu, Cusco, and Lima, by promoting thematic routes that allow visitors to discover the spiritual, historical, and cultural richness of lesser-known regions. In this context, Trujillo—with its combination of colonial heritage, vibrant religious expression, and welcoming population—emerges as a clear example of how tourism can link local development with memory and faith.
With this initiative, Trujillo not only pays tribute to one of the most influential Church figures of recent decades, but also looks ahead to a future as a hub for religious tourism—an industry that draws millions of people around the world each year. The Pope Leo XIV Route promises to become a path of reflection, connection, and discovery, where the personal history of a spiritual leader intertwines with the identity of an entire people.
