LIMA — Tens of thousands of jubilant Peruvians lined the streets of Lima to welcome Pope Leo XIV on Wednesday, turning the pontiff’s return to the country into a massive nationwide celebration.
The emotional homecoming forms part of the Pope’s extensive 11-day South American tour across Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru. For Pope Leo, who spent nearly a decade serving as a bishop in Chiclayo and holds Peruvian citizenship, the stop represents a deeply personal reunion with the communities where he spent years working as a missionary.
A Leader Remembered for Action
Local residents and former colleagues recalled the pontiff’s tireless grassroots work during times of severe crisis, particularly his relief efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic and his advocacy for Venezuelan migrant families.
“Peruvians want to celebrate their first ever pope,” said José Luis Pérez Guadalupe, a theologian at Lima’s Pacific University. “This visit is like a big party.”
Reflecting on his tenure in the country, former colleagues praised his hands-on approach to charity and community leadership—noting how he personally delivered food aid, arranged oxygen supplies during shortages, and walked local streets rather than ruling from behind a desk.
Packed Itinerary Across Peru
During his multi-day stay in Peru, the Pope’s schedule includes visits to Chiclayo, the Andean town of Santa Cruz, the African-Peruvian town of Zaña, the Inca capital of Cusco, and Pucallpa in the Peruvian Amazon, before concluding his itinerary back in the capital.