Pope Leo XIV visits Chiclayo during South American tour
Pope Leo XIV arrived in Chiclayo, Peru, for a three-day stop on his 12-day South American trip, where he will lead several events and meet with local clergy.
Pope Leo XIV landed in Chiclayo on Friday, the city where he served as bishop for eight years. The aircraft bore "#LeoXFliesHome" stickers and a welcome sign was displayed at the airport. A small dance troupe performed as he disembarked.
He will remain in the region until Sunday, overseeing eight scheduled events, including a private dinner with priests who served under him as bishop. The crowds in Chiclayo are expected to be smaller than the roughly three million people who gathered in Lima earlier in the week.
"As I look at your faces, a prayer of thanksgiving to the Lord arises in my heart for the blessing you have been and continue to be in my life," the pope said, noting that a recent lung-cancer diagnosis and surgery had been a period of trial.
The visit is part of the final segment of his 12-day South American itinerary, which also includes stops in Argentina and Uruguay. While born in Chicago and a native English speaker, the pope’s first words from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica were delivered in Spanish and addressed his "beloved Diocese of Chiclayo."
During his earlier tenure in the city, Leo was noted for advocating social-justice initiatives, visiting prisons to celebrate Mass, and organizing a fundraising drive for an oxygen-production plant during the pandemic. He also participated in relief efforts after Cyclone Maku in March 2023 and delivered gifts to remote villages during the Christmas season.
Leo, who became a Peruvian citizen in 2015 after two decades of missionary work, previously criticized the authoritarian regime of former President Alberto Fujimori. On Thursday, he spoke alongside Keiko Fujimori, daughter of the former president and current Peruvian president, at Lima’s Gran Teatro Nacional, urging leaders to promote honesty and integrity.
"Today I understand how much of this land remains with me and how much of my own story also belongs to you," he said, receiving applause when he referred to Peru as "my homeland."
Reporters: Claudio Lavanga (Lima) and Corky Siemaszko (New York).