After two decades as missionary, pope Leo XIV returned to Peru, calling it his homeland
A welcome in Lima
Crowds gathered outside Peru’s presidential palace to greet Leo, with some people breaking through security to follow his car. At the palace, he met privately with President Keiko Fujimori and joined her and a children’s choir in singing the national anthem.
In remarks to Fujimori and officials, Leo said the Peruvian citizenship he received in 2015 strengthened a bond formed earlier through the lives and struggles Peruvians shared with him. He told the audience, “I am also returning to my homeland,” drawing applause.
Years shaped by Peru
The visit is the final stop on Leo’s three-country South America tour and a personal highlight. He spent more than two decades in Peru as a missionary priest and later a bishop, and has said the country taught him what it means to be a shepherd.
Leo is a dual citizen of the United States and Peru, and the first pope from each country. Evelina Cruz, 85, said people love him because he worked in Peru and understands their hardships.
Plans across the country
In the days ahead, Leo is scheduled to celebrate Mass in places where he once served, including the sanctuary of St. Turibius of Mogrovejo in Zaña. The city is a center of Afro-Peruvian culture, and Leo often visited the sanctuary to pray to the saint he especially venerates.
The visit has prompted public displays of welcome. A 46-foot statue of the pope was unveiled at the port of El Callao, while cafés in Lima offered cappuccinos decorated with his image.
Health and regional concerns
The article says Leo arrived about a month after lung cancer surgery, and that doctors cleared him for the South America trip two weeks after the operation. He said illness had recently shown him the limits it can impose and expressed gratitude for the care he received.
Leo said access to healthcare, regardless of a person’s resources, is a duty for every society. Pérez said the Amazon brings together concerns including environmental damage, Indigenous exclusion, violence and extreme poverty.
Key points
- Leo called Peru his homeland as he arrived in Lima.
- He spent more than two decades in Peru as a priest and bishop.
- His schedule includes Mass in Zaña, a hub of Afro-Peruvian culture.
- Leo spoke about healthcare access after undergoing lung cancer surgery.