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Lima (Fides News Agency) –President-elect, Keiko Fujimori Higuchi, visited the Presidency of the Peruvian Bishops’ Conference as civil and Church authorities continue preparations for a possible apostolic visit by Pope Leo XIV to the Peru.
Keiko Fujimori, who won the presidential election on June 7, is due to take office on July 28.
Interim President José María Balcázar and the Peruvian Bishops’ Conference had mentioned the possibility that Pope Leo XIV could visit Peru in the first half of November 2026. However, the Holy See has not yet issued any official confirmation or released an itinerary for what would be Pope Leo XIV's first trip to the Americas.
According to a statement released by the Peruvian Bishops’ Conference on July 16, the President-elect expressed “her willingness to coordinate with the Church for the upcoming apostolic visit of Pope Leo XIV to Peru, scheduled for November 2026,” whilst Infobae website reported on July 16 that Fujimori expressed the hope that the visit will be “long and successful” and “reach as many people as possible.”
The occasion also saw the presentation of León, hermano del camino (“Lion, brother of the road”), a song inspired by the anticipated and possible papal visit. Composed by Jaime Montoya with Andean rhythms and performed by the Aguchita Choir, winner of the national competition organized by IRTP, the Bishops’ Conference and the Archdiocese of Lima.
According to Panamericana TV and Prensa Libre, the “León de la Esperanza” competition attracted 394 entries from 23 regions across Peru. Ten finalists performed at Lima’s Municipal Theatre.
The choir takes its name from Blessed María Agustina Rivas López, known as “Aguchita,” the Peruvian nun murdered by the Shining Path guerrilla movement in 1990. Her witness of faith and martyrdom continues to inspire the group.
Local sources say the Aguchita Choir comprises 13 members from several parishes in Lima and the Diocese of Chosica, including members of the Salamanca parish community. On its Facebook page, the Parish of Our Lady of Hope in Salamanca paid tribute to the ‘Parish Choir’ thanking its members “for your generous dedication, for placing your gifts at the service of God, and for enriching the prayer of our community through your singing. May the Lord continue to bless your musical ministry and always strengthen your vocation of service; ‘Sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth’.” (MLK) (Fides News Agency, 18/7/2026)
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