World Pressenza
Pope Leo XIV: “Come back home!”
Under the motto “Come back home!”, Peru prepares to welcome Pope Leo XIV—formerly Robert Francis Prevost—who returns to the country for the first time since his appointment as the supreme authority of
English (original) ·Read in Deutsch ⇄
Under the motto “Come back home!”, Peru prepares to welcome Pope Leo XIV—formerly Robert Francis Prevost—who returns to the country for the first time since his appointment as the supreme authority of the Catholic Church in May 2025. His packed itinerary, beginning this Wednesday the 11th, includes visits to his beloved Diocese of Chiclayo, as well as the cities of Lima, Callao, Pimentel, Zaña, Santa Cruz de Succhabamba, Cusco, and Pucallpa.
The nation awaits this humble, steadfast, and compassionate father, brother, and missionary—known as Robert Prevost, now Pope Leo XIV—who first arrived in our country in 1985 as an Augustinian missionary. He carried out pastoral work in Chulucanas and Trujillo, eventually serving as Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Callao and Bishop of Chiclayo.
His missionary work took place outside the confines of the cloister, in close collaboration with the faithful: he coordinated aid for those affected by the 2017 *El Niño Costero* weather phenomenon, organized community kitchens, and has supported migrants since 2018. In the 1990s, he helped gather nearly 50,000 signatures to advocate for the creation of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), and he later criticized the pardon granted to Fujimori, deeming it insufficient for true reconciliation. Furthermore, he reviewed investigations and listened to victims of abuse in Peru, ultimately spearheading the canonical suppression of the *Sodalitium Christianae Vitae* (Sodalicio de Vida Cristiana) due to instances of abuse and financial mismanagement.
The agenda of the “Peruvian Pope”
His visit maintains that same focus on direct engagement with the people and a commitment to social causes:
Wednesday, November 11 (Lima and Callao): A meeting with the President at the Government Palace, and an encounter at the Grand National Theater.
Thursday, November 12 (Lima): A meeting with bishops and religious figures at the Cathedral of Lima—including a dialogue on the country’s challenges—followed by a vigil with young people at the National Stadium.
Friday, November 13 (Chiclayo and Pimentel): A prayer gathering at the Sanctuary of Saint Turibius of Mogrovejo to mark the conclusion of his Jubilee Year.
Saturday, November 14 (Santa Cruz de Succhabamba and Zaña): Pastoral activities and Eucharistic celebrations in the north of the country.
Sunday, November 15 (Cusco and Pucallpa): A gathering at Saqsaywaman and the recitation of the Angelus in Cusco. This will be followed by a trip to Pucallpa for a meeting with Amazonian missionaries, Holy Mass at the Regional Sports Complex, and a return to Callao.
Monday, November 16 (Lima, Callao): A visit to a shelter, a farewell Holy Mass at the Las Palmas Air Base, an official ceremony in Callao, and a flight to Rome.
As is often the case with a loved one, his stay will feel too short. The people hope he will address the demands of GenZ, seek justice for the families of those affected by repression, and advocate for reparations for survivors of the Sodalicio; but above all, they want to feel a connection to this “Peruvian Pope”—a man who carries a message of peace to the world, holding both his passport and his Peruvian national ID card (DNI).