Pope Leo XIV returns to Peru, the country that shaped his ministry

Pope Leo XIV arrived in Peru on Wednesday for a multi-city visit that includes Lima, Cusco, Chiclayo and other locations. The pontiff, who served as bishop of Chiclayo for nearly two decades, is expected to meet local clergy and community leaders while reflecting on his years of pastoral work in the country.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, he traveled more than 700 kilometers from Chiclayo to the Diocese of Callao, distributing food and supplies while providing spiritual support. Father José Del Rosario, rector of the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Mount Carmel of La Legua, said the bishop “came every two weeks in his little car… alone in a simple pickup truck” and “gave us a lot of hope and cared for our people.”

Prevost also led fundraising efforts that raised over US$380,000 for two oxygen plants in Chiclayo, addressing severe shortages that contributed to Peru’s high mortality rate. In the aftermath of natural disasters such as the 2017 coastal El Niño floods and Cyclone Yaku in 2023, he worked with Caritas Chiclayo and other groups to provide aid, with former director Janinna Sesa noting his presence “in the water, helping people.”

The bishop’s response to the Venezuelan migrant influx beginning in 2018 included establishing a commission to assist migrants and combat human trafficking, as well as supporting the construction of the San Vicente de Paúl village for displaced families. Lisbeth Díaz, a Venezuelan resident of Chiclayo, said the bishop “welcomed us with warmth and love.”

Prevost also promoted dialogue about Peru’s internal conflict and the authoritarian period of the 1990s, helping collect signatures for the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. His work in the Augustinian mission in Trujillo involved dramatizations that encouraged community discussion of past violence.

Reverend John Lydon, a fellow Augustinian priest, told CNN that the pope’s “dedication to the poor and his defense of human rights will continue to define his visit.”