“That is why I can tell you, with profound gratitude, that I am also returning to my homeland,” said Pope Leo XIV.
He arrived in Lima this Wednesday for the final leg of his South American tour.
The pontiff landed at the Callao Air Base on an Aerolíneas Argentinas flight. President Keiko Fujimori welcomed him there. The visit runs until November 16.
I am very pleased to be back in #Peru. This return visit holds a very special meaning for me. For years, I shared in the lives of its people, listened to their concerns, and learned from their faith. Many opened the doors of their homes to me and made me feel like one of their…
This trip is an emotional homecoming for Chicago-born Robert Francis Prevost. He served as a missionary and bishop in the country for two decades. He was elected pope in May 2025.
Peruvian authorities estimated that three million people greeted the papal motorcade in the capital. The faithful waved Peruvian flags and signs along the route to the Government Palace. Loudspeakers played criolla music.
Workers unveiled a 46-foot-tall statue of the pope at the port of El Callao before his arrival.
Leo spoke to Fujimori and government officials. He said the Peruvian citizenship he acquired in 2015 solidified a bond that began much earlier. He credited the Peruvian people for shaping him as a pastor.
President Keiko Fujimori said in her speech that “the threat of the El Niño phenomenon and the difficulties of daily life have sown fear and uncertainty in many homes”. She asked for help for national reconciliation. She added, “we have endured many decades of confrontation and distrust”.
Leo XIV said families have the right to “go out to work without fear, take care of their children, and return home with serenity”. He said “the events of the past deserve to be treated with justice and sensitivity”.
The pontiff said the Amazon is a place where environmental issues intersect. He mentioned the exclusion of indigenous people and various forms of violence. He warned that illegal gold mining and coca leaf cultivation are affecting native communities.
The Church faces challenges in Latin America from secularization and other Christian denominations. Catholicism is the dominant religious force. Evangelical churches have gained members by offering a direct relationship with God and a modern style of worship.
Gustavo Morello, an associate professor of sociology at Boston College, said the trip is a return to his roots. He wrote “Lived Religion in Latin America”.
About 76% of the 34 million inhabitants identify as Catholic. Data from 2024 shows 91% had been baptized in the Catholic faith.
- Cusco: He will tour the heart of the Inca Empire to meet with the local population.
- Pucallpa: He will travel to the Amazon rainforest for a meeting with indigenous populations and missionaries.
Earlier coverage: Pope Leo XIV Returns to Peru for Homecoming Visit
