Peru Funds Papal Visit, Armors Buses Against Extortion
PERU · GOVERNMENT
Key Facts
- —What happened Peru’s government transferred S/63.2 million (about US$18.8 million) to fund Pope Leo XIV’s November visit.
- —The scale The pope will visit Lima, Chiclayo, Cusco and Pucallpa from November 11 to 16, his first South American tour.
- —Also underway Separately, Callao transport operators are fitting buses with steel cabins and bulletproof glass against extortion.
- —The catch The bus armor project covers just one Callao corridor; extortion keeps killing drivers elsewhere in Peru.
- —What comes next Corredor Rosado plans to armor all 50 buses by the end of 2026, split evenly with Callao’s government.
Peru’s government is funding Pope Leo XIV’s homecoming visit while a Callao bus company arms its fleet against extortion gangs.
Peru’s government has transferred S/63.2 million (about US$18.8 million) to the Foreign Ministry. The money will help pay for Pope Leo XIV’s first visit home to Peru.
Leo XIV is the first American pope in history. He once served eight years as bishop of Chiclayo, in northern Peru.
Government Funds a Homecoming Visit
He is scheduled to visit Lima, Chiclayo, Cusco and Pucallpa from November 11 to 16, 2026. The last pope to visit Peru was Francis, in January 2018.
The transfer was authorized under Supreme Decree 176-2026-EF, published in Peru’s official gazette. It draws on the Finance Ministry’s contingency reserve, money set aside for unplanned costs.
The decree says the funds cover “goods and services” for organizing events tied to the visit. It bars officials from spending the money on anything else.
The ministry has five days to detail exactly how it will divide the money. Planners expect the Chiclayo-area Mass to draw more than one million pilgrims.
A closing Mass is planned for Lima before the pope returns to Rome.
Bus Drivers Armor Up Against Extortion
In Callao, next to Lima, transport company Corredor Rosado is fitting steel cabins onto its buses. The upgrade adds 21-millimeter reinforced glass that can stop bullets, La República reported.
Callao’s city government and the bus consortium are splitting the cost evenly. They aim to armor all 50 buses on the route by the end of 2026.
Some municipalities are negotiating lower “social cost” prices with armor companies. That could let more corridors afford similar upgrades, officials said.
Peru’s Public Ministry recorded 25 attacks on Callao transport workers between August 2024 and July 2026. Nine drivers or fare collectors died in attacks tied to extortion gangs, prosecutors said.
Callao Mayor César Pérez said some bus companies refuse to keep paying extortionists. “We need to give drivers peace of mind,” he told La República.
The buses will also get satellite-tracked security cameras feeding Callao’s monitoring center in real time. City officials say that link should speed up emergency response.
Infobae reported 214 attacks on Peru’s transport workers from August 2024 to May 2026. Those attacks left 152 people dead and 131 injured, including 72 deaths in 2026 alone.
Other Lima operators are arming buses on their own. Bus company VIPUSA has armored about 70% of its fleet, spending up to S/3,000 per bus (about US$892).
VIPUSA has absorbed the cost so far without raising fares. Company officials have not ruled out a fare increase later, Infobae reported.
One VIPUSA driver told Infobae that “our lives hang by a thread” in public transport.
More: Peru news in English, every day from The Rio Times.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much money did Peru allocate for Pope Leo XIV’s visit?
Peru’s government transferred S/63.2 million (about US$18.8 million) to the Foreign Ministry to fund the visit.
When is Pope Leo XIV visiting Peru, and which cities will he see?
He is scheduled to visit Lima, Chiclayo, Cusco and Pucallpa from November 11 to 16, 2026.
Why are Callao buses getting armored cabins?
Transport operators are adding steel cabins and bulletproof glass. Extortion gangs have repeatedly attacked drivers on the Corredor Rosado route.
Sources: Agencia Andina, Infobae Perú, La República, El Comercio Perú.
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