Peru welcomes Leo to Chiclayo

Pope Leo XIV arrives in Chiclayo, Peru, on Friday to celebrate mass with the community that remembers him as a hands-on priest. The 71-year-old Chicago native served as the diocesan bishop of the Pacific coast city from 2015 to 2023. During his tenure, he became a naturalized citizen and mastered Spanish. He is returning for the final leg of a tour across Latin America that includes stops in Argentina and Uruguay.

The visit occurs weeks after Leo underwent surgery to remove a lung tumor. His itinerary includes political engagement alongside religious duties. In Buenos Aires, he visited a facility serving more than 400 people with disabilities. He used the occasion to critique the austerity measures of Argentine President Javier Milei, who has withheld funding for disability care. Leo stated that a nation’s progress is measured by how it welcomes people with particular needs.

Political friction also exists in Peru. The country’s newly elected President, Keiko Fujimori, holds an immigration stance that conflicts with Leo’s policies. The president promised to expel more than one million Venezuelan migrants who lack legal status in Peru. Leo, who helped many of these migrants attain legal status during his time as bishop, urged justice for the country’s turbulent past. His remarks referenced the legacy of her father, former authoritarian leader Alberto Fujimori, whose reign was marked by documented human rights violations.

Despite the political context, crowds in Lima greeted the pontiff with enthusiasm. Three million people lined the streets as he passed in a popemobile. Keiko Fujimori attended an appearance at the Gran Teatro Nacional with him. She stated that Peru needs to reconcile to move forward. Leo spent much of his speech recalling his personal history in the country, including his friendship with locals and his appreciation for ceviche, the national dish.

The pope’s return coincides with a demographic shift in the region. Catholics remain the largest religious group in Latin America, but their numbers are falling. A recent Pew Research Center survey found that the percentage of adults in Peru identifying as Catholic dropped from 76 percent in 2013 to 67 percent this year. Similar declines were recorded in Argentina and Mexico. Church leaders view the trip as an effort to bolster the faith in the region.

Residents of Chiclayo have prepared for the arrival with visible displays of affection. The city painted murals depicting stages of Leo’s life and installed a life-size cardboard cutout on the balcony of the municipal building. Vendors sell T-shirts and souvenir bottles featuring his image. Fabiola Risco Pacheco, a longtime church volunteer, recalled his compassion during the rainy season. She said he would join flood relief efforts in his boots and walk or ride a donkey to reach highland areas.

Risco noted that her son was confirmed by Leo before he was elected pope. After his elevation, she and other parishioners shared their confirmation photos on social media. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the then-bishop led an emergency campaign to secure medical oxygen for the community. Father Juan Mechán Sánchez, the parochial vicar at Santa María Cathedral, said he has been sleeping only a few hours each night in preparation for the event. He hopes the visit will encourage a renewal of Catholic commitment.

Archbishop Paolo Rocco Gualtieri told Vatican News that Leo was a pastor who walked with his people. He said the local community feels very close to the pontiff. The mass in Chiclayo is scheduled for Friday. Tens of thousands of visitors are expected to travel to the city for the event.