The Vatican has cancelled a scheduled meeting between Peruvian President José María Balcázar and Pope León XIV, originally set for May 11th, according to a statement released Thursday by Peruvian Foreign Minister Hugo de Zela.
The cancellation stems from the fact that the initial invitation to meet with the Pope was extended to José Jerí, who was serving as president in February. Jerí was subsequently removed from office by the Peruvian Congress, leading to the appointment of Balcázar as president. “The audience was specifically scheduled for May 11th. That date is no longer valid,” de Zela stated, as reported by RPP Noticias.
Peruvian officials are now seeking a new date for the meeting. “We are currently awaiting a new date from the Vatican so that President Balcázar can travel to Rome,” de Zela added. The government hopes the rescheduled audience will provide an opportunity for Balcázar to formally reiterate an invitation for Pope León XIV to visit Peru, a desire expressed by the current administration, according to reports from Agencia Andina.
The Vatican’s decision comes amid a period of political instability in Peru, a fact acknowledged by the Holy See, according to La República. The cancellation raises questions about the potential impact on Peru’s diplomatic agenda and the planned papal visit.
The initial invitation to Jerí was confirmed by the Vatican in February, but the subsequent change in leadership prompted a reassessment of the meeting. The Peruvian government is hopeful that the Vatican will view the situation with understanding and accommodate a new meeting date, as indicated in a statement to Perú21.
Leave a Reply