Pope Leo Welcomed by Millions in His 'Second Homeland' Peru

Pope Leo XIV arrived in Peru, which he calls his "second homeland," for the final leg of his Latin American tour, just weeks after undergoing lung cancer surgery. The Pontiff was greeted by millions in the capital, Lima, stating that this visit holds "a very special meaning" for him.

A Vatican statement reported that 3 million people welcomed the Pope in Lima, making it one of the largest crowds of his papacy, following an estimated 2.5 million at an outdoor Mass in Buenos Aires earlier this week. The Pope is scheduled to spend three days in Chiclayo, a northern city where he served as bishop from 2015 to 2023.

Highlights

• Pope Leo XIV received a massive welcome from millions in Peru, the final stop of his Latin American tour.
• The reception in Lima drew 3 million people, marking one of the largest gatherings of his papacy.
• The Pope will spend three days in Chiclayo, where he served as bishop from 2015 to 2023.
• He spent two decades in Peru as a missionary priest and bishop, obtaining citizenship there.
• Pope Leo urged Peruvian President Keiko Fujimori to build trust among her people and confront the country's turbulent past.

Details

The 71-year-old Pope Leo visited Uruguay and Argentina before heading to Peru. Although born in Chicago, USA, he served as a missionary priest and bishop in Peru for two decades and obtained citizenship, leading him to consider Peru his "second homeland." During his speech at Lima's Gran Teatro Nacional, he stated, "Today, I understand how much of this land remains with me and how much of my own story also belongs to you."

Peru prepared extensively for the Pope's homecoming, including erecting a 14-meter (46ft) statue of Pope Leo in a seaside park in Callao. Merchants in Lima were selling Pope-themed shirts and souvenirs.

In a closely watched speech to President Keiko Fujimori, Pope Leo addressed the country's turbulent past and her father Alberto Fujimori's contested legacy. He urged Fujimori to confront "past events that deserve to be treated with justice and sensitivity" and to build confidence among her people. He also called on Peruvians to cultivate "honesty, integrity, and a willingness to engage with others."

Why it matters

Pope Leo's visit to Peru is significant both for his personal history and for the country's efforts towards political and social reconciliation. Undertaking this tour shortly after lung cancer surgery demonstrates the Pope's good health, while his calls to Peru carry important messages for the nation's future. The Pope's past criticism of Alberto Fujimori's pardon further amplifies the symbolic weight of this visit.