In Cusco, meeting the faithful at the national archaeological park

 

Pope

• Pope Leo XIV
• Peru
• indigenous people
• Devozione
• meeting
• apostolic journey

Pope in Cusco: Every expression of popular piety reveals a community seeking God

At Saqsaywaman in Cusco, Pope Leo XIV describes popular devotion as a living expression of faith that brings people together, builds fraternity, and passes the Gospel on to future generations.

Vatican News

Popular devotion is more than the preservation of religious customs and traditions: it is the expression of a people’s living faith and their search for God, Pope Leo XIV said on Sunday during a meeting with the faithful and representatives of popular devotion at the Saqsaywaman National Archaeological Park in Cusco, Peru.

“A religious festival, a pilgrimage or a procession, therefore, are not merely cultural expressions,” the Pope said. “Behind every image, song, promise and sign there is a community of hearts seeking God and a friendly voice that responds from heaven and draws near.”

The meeting took place on the penultimate day of the Pope’s apostolic journey to South America, in the historic surroundings of Cusco, at an altitude of 3,399 metres in the Peruvian Andes. Once the capital of the Inca Empire, the city is today a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where Inca heritage and Spanish colonial architecture bear witness to centuries of cultural and religious encounter.

Saqsaywaman,  the imposing Inca archaeological complex overlooking the city, was the poignant venue for the Pope’s encounter with the Quechua people, representatives of other Indigenous communities, and with the comunidades campesinas in the region where over 70 percent of the population identifies as Indigenous.

God draws near through the culture of a people

Beginning his address, the Pope recalled the late Archbishop Richard Daniel Alarcón Urrutia, the former Archbishop of Cusco, who died on October 30 after a lengthy illness and who worked "very hard for this journey." The Pope assured his prayers for the eternal repose of the late Archbishop and for consolation for all who mourn him.

Reflecting on the Gospel account of the Annunciation, Pope Leo pointed to Mary as an example of faith nurtured within a family and community. God, he said, came to meet her in the ordinary setting of her home in Nazareth, through familiar symbols, her own language and the signs of her culture.

“This is how God acts,” he said, seeking the most appropriate ways and moments to draw near to people so that they may encounter him.

Popular piety, the Pope continued, is one of the most beautiful expressions of this encounter. Through music, dance, images, pilgrimages and religious celebrations, people give voice to the memory of their ancestors, the faith of their families, their love for Christ and their devotion to Mary and the saints.

Recalling Pope Francis's teaching, he described popular piety as “a true expression of the spontaneous missionary activity of the people of God”, noting that traditional practices should become opportunities to encounter Christ and proclaim the Gospel.

Meeting with the Faithful and Representatives of Popular Devotion at the “Saqsaywaman” National Archaeological Park, Cusco (VATICAN MEDIA)

Faith unites rather than divides

A central theme of the Pope’s reflection was the capacity of popular devotion to strengthen bonds between people, particularly in a world marked by divisions, wounds and mistrust.

Mary’s encounter with God did not isolate her from others, he observed. Instead, it made her the bearer of a gift destined for the good of all humanity.

“Faith does not separate; rather, it unites us to God and to one another,” he said.

Religious traditions can help communities overcome differences and rediscover their common bonds. “A procession can make people with different views walk together. A pilgrimage can reunite entire families. A celebration can bring a community together,” he said, adding that a patron saint's feast can also become an opportunity to reconcile, ask forgiveness and begin anew.

The Pope invited those present to make religious celebrations “a school of fraternity and charity”, where people work, pray and rejoice together, while also caring for those in need.

Meeting with the Faithful and Representatives of Popular Devotion at the “Saqsaywaman” National Archaeological Park, Cusco (VATICAN MEDIA)

Passing on a living tradition

Pope Leo also stressed the importance of involving younger generations in popular devotion, saying that the future of these traditions depends not simply on preserving what has been handed down but on passing it on in a living way.

“Each generation receives a legacy and has the responsibility to pass it on enriched and renewed,” he said, encouraging communities to welcome young people's contributions through listening, cooperation and, where necessary, adaptation to changing times.

At the same time, he highlighted the need to preserve the Christian meaning of these traditions by helping young people understand the history of salvation, the lives of the saints and the significance of religious celebrations, and by bringing them closer to the Word of God and the life of the Church.

The aim, he said, is to transmit a living experience of Christian life, constantly renewed around the altar, with the Eucharist as its centre and source.

Entrusting Peru's Marian devotion to Mary

Focusing on the particular character of popular devotion in Peru, the Pope highlighted its profound Marian dimension, recalling the mosaic in the Vatican Gardens, which he blessed the previous year, depicting the different titles under which Mary accompanies the Peruvian people, shares their joys and sorrows, and teaches them to hope.

Every devotion, he said, finds its meaning when it brings people together around Jesus and, following in his footsteps, leads them towards heaven.

At the end of the meeting, Pope Leo entrusted the renewal of popular devotion to Our Lady of Bethlehem, Mother and Protector of Cusco. He then presented her with the Golden Rose, asking Mary to grant peace to the land, strengthen those who suffer, and give all the grace to walk together in the love of her Son.

Pope Leo XIV prays Angelus in Cusco, Peru 11.15.2026

 

Pope

• Pope Leo XIV
• Peru
• apostolic journey
• Angelus

Pope at Angelus in Cusco: Illness is a path to grow in God’s love

As he visits the Peruvian city of Cusco, Pope Leo XIV reflects on the deeper Christian meaning of illness, noting that weakness can be transformed into divine strength in God’s love.

By Devin Watkins

During his brief visit to the Peruvian city of Cusco, the ancient Incan capital, high in the Andes mountains, Pope Leo XIV prayed the Marian prayer of the Angelus with the faithful outside the Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

In his reflection, the Pope recalled the late Archbishop Richard Daniel Alarcón Urrutia, the Archbishop of Cusco who died on October 30 after a lengthy illness. He also expressed his joy to greet the new Archbishop of Cusco, Archbishop Lizardo Estrada.

Entrusting him to Mary’s loving intercession, Pope Leo reflected on the theme of illness and weakness.

“Your weakness is transformed into divine strength that multiplies the gifts of love and redemption,” he said. “You have been witnesses to the self-offering made by Archbishop Richard, who united his life to the Lord’s Cross.”

The Pope expressed his closeness to the many people who suffer in body and soul due to illness, lamenting the “great lie” of our throwaway culture that sees illness as “a misfortune that diminishes a person’s worth.”

“In the light of the Gospel, when lived with faith and united to the mystery of Christ’s Passion, illness is a path to growing in His love and sharing it,” he said. “You are at the heart of the Church, for your suffering, when offered with love for the salvation of souls, for vocations and for peace, becomes a source of spiritual strength.”

Pope Leo then turned to priests and consecrated men and women, who have left everything behind to follow the Lord.

God has entrusted to them the “talents” of the word of God, the sacraments, and the pastoral care of God’s people, he recalled.

“What an immense responsibility we carry in our hands of clay!” he said. “Let us not be afraid to give our lives, to wear ourselves out for Christ. In this way, we will become visible signs of God’s mercy. This is the best way to foster vocations.”

The Pope went on to speak about the Lord of the Earthquakes, an image widely venerated in the area.

“In the year 1650, when the earth shook, sowing destruction and panic among your ancestors, it was enough for the sacred image to be carried out into the streets for the aftershocks to cease and peace to reign once more,” he recalled.

The people of Peru, he added, have known since then that they have a safe haven and an unshakable anchor in the Lord amid the tremors of history.

Pope Leo then bestowed a Shroud upon the image of the Lord of Earthquakes as a special act of devotion.

“It is meant to be the Pope’s caress for a people who know how to suffer with dignity and with Christian hope,” he said. “As you behold the Lord of the Earthquakes clothed in this Shroud, remember that the universal Church is with you.”

Saint of the Day for Sunday

 

St. Albert the Great

Feast Day: November 15
Patron: of scientists, philosophers, medical technicians, natural sciences
Birth: 1200
Death: 1280
Beatified: 1622 by Pope Gregory XV
Canonized: 1931 by Pope Pius XI

The saint and doctor of the Church who would be known as Albertus Magnus was born sometime before the year 1200. He was probably born in Bavaria, a fact we infer because he referred to himself as "Albert of Lauingen," a town which still stands today in southern Germany.

We do not know for sure all the details of his family origins, but we know he was well educated. He attended the University of Padua where he learned about Aristotle and his writings. This instruction in philosophy would become the foundation of his later work.

Sometime around the year 1223 or so, Albert experienced an encounter with the Blessed Virgin Mary. This encounter moved him so much that he chose to become a member of the Dominican Order. He thereafter studied theology.

He excelled in his studies and later became a lecturer for the Dominicans at Cologne. He also traveled around the region to lecture gaining regional, then international acclaim.

At the same time he started lecturing, Albert produced "Summa de Bono," after collaboration with Phillip the Chancellor, who was a renown theologian from France.

In 1245, Albert became a Master of Theology under Gueruc of Saint-Quentin. He was the first German Dominican to achieve the title. He later went on to teach theology at the University of Paris and became the Chair of Theology at the College of St. James. One of his students was the famous Thomas Aquinas who would also become a doctor of the Church and a saint.

Albert was very interested in Aristotle, and he made commentary on nearly all of Aristotle’s works. He also studied the teachings of several Muslim scholars. At this time, the Islamic world led Europe in terms of scholarship, science, and medicine.

In 1254, Albert became the provincial of the Dominican Order. By all accounts, he was a capable and efficient administrator.

Five years later, in 1259, Albert participated in the General Chapter of the Dominicans along with Thomas Aquinas and several other contemporary leaders of the Order. They created a program of study for the Dominican order and developed a curriculum for philosophy. From this course of study would later arise the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas, in Rome. Today, the university which is known as the "Angelicum," is one of the foremost theological colleges in the world. It is still run by the Dominican order.

In 1260, impressed with his acumen, Pope Alexander IV appointed Albert as bishop of Regensburg. Although he was a bishop, Albert refused to ride a horse and went everywhere on foot. This seemingly unusual practice was consistent with the rules of his order. The life of a bishop did not agree with Albert and he resigned from his post in 1263.

In that same year, Pope Urban IV accepted his resignation and reassigned him to preach about the Eighth Crusade to German-speaking people. The crusade was intended to recapture the city of Tunis in North Africa for Christendom, and was a total failure.

In his later years, Albert became renowned as a mediator. He mediated disputes between individuals as well as resolving a dispute between the people of Colonge and their bishop. He also founded Germany’s oldest university in that city.

Before his death, he mourned the early passing of his great student, Thomas Aquinas, who would later be recognized as a saint and doctor of the Church. Aquinas died in 1274. Albert spent his last years defending the work of Aquinas which is among the most important work in the Church.

Albert became ill in 1278 and he died on November 15, 1280.

During his life, Albert wrote thirty eight volumes covering topics ranging from philosophy to geography, astronomy, law, friendship and love.

Three years after his death, his grave was opened and his body found to be incorrupt. When his grave was again opened centuries later in 1483, they only found his skeleton. His relics are presently found in the St. Andreas church in Colonge.

Albert was beatified in 1622 by Pope Gregory XV. He was canonized and recognized as a doctor of the Church in 1931, by Pope Pius IX. He is the patron saint of scientists. His feast day is November 15.

Pope Leo concludes his Saturday In Peru at the Shrine of St. Turibius

 

Pope

• apostolic journey
• Pope Leo XIV
• Peru
• catholic church
• saints and blessed

Pope Leo in Zaña: Continue passing on the faith to your children

At the Shrine of Saint Turibius of Mogrovejo, during his meeting with the local community of faithful, Pope Leo notes that a shepherd is also recognized by the “physical and existential distances” he is willing to travel. He also revealed that his encounter with this community of believers helped him gain a deeper understanding of the Gospel.

By Alina Tufani Díaz

“I often arrived to proclaim the Gospel and returned having understood it a little better, thanks to your faith.”

Pope Leo offered these words to the community of believers gathered for his visit at the Shrine of Saint Turibius of Mogrovejo in Zaña. 

The Jubilee Year, marking 300 years since the canonization of Saint Turibius de Mogrovejo, provided the occasion for the Pope to visit the Saint's shrine  (VATICAN MEDIA)

He gave a short address—considering the speeches and homilies delivered since the beginning of his Apostolic Journey to Uruguay, Argentina and now Peru—but one filled with deep emotion and gratitude.

It all began, as the Holy Father himself explained, on the night before he began his ministry as Bishop of Chiclayo. He spent that night in prayer, asking the Lord, through the intercession of Saint Turibius, to grant him the grace of becoming a shepherd after His own heart.

“That night I asked the Lord to teach me how to be a shepherd.  Looking back on the years that have passed, I now understand that you have been part of God’s answer to that prayer.  For this, I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart.  Thank you for your faith, your affection and all that you taught me during those years.”

Memories and the flavors of home

“How I have longed for this moment!” Continuing in this warm and familiar tone, like a gathering among friends, Pope Leo confessed to the more than 10,000 people present at the prayer meeting with the Catholic community of Zaña that, back when he had gone from being Father Robert to becoming a bishop, he had no idea what awaited him. He had certainly expected their hospitality, their affectionate gestures and the open doors of their homes—but also their delicious food!

“Even those familiar flavors have brought back memories of the happy times I spent here.  Thank you for making me feel, once again, that I am home.”

Saint Turibius of Mogrovejo: The love of a shepherd

The Jubilee Year, marking 300 years since the canonization of Saint Turibius of Mogrovejo, provided the occasion for the Pope to visit the Saint's shrine amid his busy papal schedule.

A Saint deeply loved by all Peruvians—Indigenous, European and Afro-descendant alike. Representatives of these different communities shared their testimonies with Leo XIV, who listened with great emotion and gratitude. He said that he would carry their words of faith always in his heart.

It was in Zaña that the Saint, who had come from the Old World, "that he surrendered his spirit to the Father while carrying out the pastoral visitation entrusted to him as Bishop of this region."

Children greeted Pope Leo at the Shrine of Saint Turibius (VATICAN MEDIA)

Paradoxically, his remains are not there, despite the presence of an empty tomb. One year after his death, they were transferred to Lima.

“His life reminds us that a shepherd’s love is measured also by the physical and existential distances he is willing to travel in order to proclaim Jesus Christ”

The faith of the communities of Mogrovejo

The Pope spoke about the people who followed Saint Turibius during his visits to Zaña, bringing the Gospel to the most remote places.

These were the same communities he had come to know during his own time as Bishop of Chiclayo, including through his visits to Incahuasi and Kañaris, areas inhabited by Indigenous peoples of the region and lovingly accompanied by priests and religious sisters.

The Pope also addressed the African descendant communities, whose ancestors were generations of African men and women forcibly separated from their homes and subjected to slavery, enduring “great suffering and humiliation.”

“Dear brothers and sisters of African descent, today I want to express my affection and closeness to you.  I have had the joy of coming to know your faith, your traditions and the love with which you preserve the memory of your ancestors.  Thank you for all that you contribute to the life of this Church.”

Pope Leo also mentioned another saint, Martin de Porres, whom Saint Turibius himself had confirmed. As the mixed-race son of an African father and a Spanish mother, Martin de Porres continues to remind these communities how much God loves them and to encourage them to persevere on the path to holiness.

The needs of our time

Pope Leo XIV emphasized the importance of remaining united, caring for one another and never becoming accustomed to the suffering of others, reminding those present that: “There is always someone we can help, someone we can listen to, a family we can accompany.”

The visit concluded with a traditional dance (VATICAN MEDIA)

He continued: “Dear brothers and sisters, the life of Saint Turibius also invites us to look at the needs of our own time.  I know that many families in this region suffer because of crime, extortion and insecurity.  I am pained at the thought of those who live in fear, of people whose honest labor is under threat and of those who continue to experience discrimination.”

Friendship with Jesus: The Word that transforms

In a final message, the Holy Father addressed the ecclesial community of Zaña and all those who had gathered at the Shrine of Saint Turibius of Mogrovejo: “Dear priests, nourish your friendship with Jesus Christ each day, celebrate the sacraments with love and reverence, and always remain close to the people entrusted to your care.  Dear parents and grandparents, continue to pass on the faith to your children and grandchildren.  And you, young people, open your hearts to the Lord, who knows you and has a beautiful vocation for each of you.  Let us allow his word to transform our lives and teach us to love as he loves us.”

Pope Leo XIV celebrates Mass in Santa Cruz as South American Journey nears its' end

 

Pope Leo celebrates Mass in Santa Cruz (VATICAN MEDIA)

Pope

• Pope Leo XIV
• apostolic journey
• Peru
• mass
• homily

Pope in Santa Cruz: Jesus calls Church to heed unanswered cries for justice

Celebrating Mass in Santa Cruz, in the Diocese of Chiclayo, Peru, Pope Leo XIV says the unanswered cry for justice “on the lips of so many men and women” is “a matter of great concern for both the Church and society."

By Christopher Wells

Pope Leo XIV travelled to the small Peruvian town of Santa Cruz de Succhabamba in his former Diocese of Chiclayo on Saturday, to share with the faithful once again “the joy of being a disciple and missionary of Christ.”

He acknowledged the long journey of the thousands of Catholics from rural communities in the Andes as “a pilgrimage of faith” to encounter Jesus, venerated in Santa Cruz as El Señor del Costado.

Faith founded on Gospel values and popular devotion

Beginning with the first reading from the Mass, the Holy Father paid tribute to missionaries who first brought the Faith to the region. “Since the arrival of the first missionaries… the seed of the Gospel has never ceased to take root and bear fruit in these lands, quietly, far from applause or great recognition,” he said.

It was through them, he said, that “faith has grown simply and genuinely, founded on the daily living of Gospel values and expressed in traditions and festivals that bring peoples and generations together.”

He went on to express gratitude to the catechists and lay men and women who continue to provide pastoral care to the faithful in an area where priests are often lacking.

Faith, prayer, and action

Turning then to the parable of the persistent widow from the day’s Gospel, Pope Leo emphasized the importance of praying “without losing heart.”

At the same time, he said, Jesus’ parable “is an invitation to open our eyes to the many painful situations around us.” The widow’s plea for justice “is still sadly heard today, unanswered, on the lips of so many men and women” which is “a matter of great concern for both the Church and society.”

He warned against the temptation “to give in to discouragement, resentment, or evil,” which “will never lead to progress and peace.”

Instead, he said, selfishness, injustice, and evil must be overcome “by prayer, patience, and persevering in denouncing what is wrong, by making our please with determination, and by working diligently to bring about the necessary changes, while never losing trust in God.”

Noting that the widow of the parable was sustained by her faith, Pope Leo emphasized the close relationship between faith, prayer, and action: “Where there is faith, there is prayer,” he said. “And where there is prayer, there is the capacity to commit oneself to other.”

In particular, he commended those who “strive to provide people with dignified jobs… helping to promote authentic models of integral human development through employment.”

Continue to hope in the Lord

Pope Leo XIV told the faithful, “The Lord knows the paths you travel, your hardships, your worries, and the challenges you face.”

He encouraged them to continue to hope in the Lord, praying that they may continue to be protected under the mantle of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception and nourished by the Eucharist.

And, the Pope concluded, “may el Señor del Costado, venerated with such devotion here in Santa Cruz, bless you, protect you, and always inspire thoughts and gestures of unity, charity, and peace.”

Pope Leo XIV has one last event in Chiclayo entrusting his ministry to Our Lady

 

Pope

• Pope Leo XIV
• apostolic journey
• Peru
• virgin mary

Pope entrusts his life to Mary where he began episcopal ministry in Peru

Pope Leo XIV crowns the Immaculate Virgin at the Cathedral of Chiclayo and entrusts his life and ministry to Our Lady, in the same place he began his episcopal service as the diocesan Bishop in 2015.

By Devin Watkins

On his fourth day in Peru, Pope Leo XIV prayed the Liturgy of the Word at the Cathedral of St. Mary, in Chiclayo, and crowned the image of the Immaculate Virgin.

It was here, in 2015, that then-Bishop Robert Prevost began his episcopal ministry as the Bishop of Chiclayo, a role he served in until 2023, when Pope Francis appointed him Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops.

In his homily, the Pope thanked God for the opportunity to “celebrate our faith” in his former Cathedral.

He said the crowning of the Blessed Virgin Mary’s image is “particularly significant.”

“The crown I will place upon our Lady’s head is intended to symbolize the tribute of gratitude and filial love offered to her by the Pope, together with you and the whole Church, as we acknowledge her as the loving Mother and Patroness of Chiclayo, exalted by God as Queen of heaven and earth,” he said.

Pope Leo recalled the words of Isaiah just heard in the liturgy, which warn that darkness always lies in wait to envelop us completely.

He pointed to the widespread violence and unspeakable suffering that many people endure around the world.

“Yet, despite this darkness, which so often dims our hope and weakens our trust,” he said, “God’s gift continues to shine before our eyes: ‘For a child has been born for us, a son given to us’.”

Jesus Christ, he added, alone can illumine the hidden corners of human existence and rescue us from sin, revealing our identity as sons and daughters of God invited to share in the joy of His salvation.

Mary’s obedience to the Father’s will allowed for the Son of God to be born into the world.

“By her obedience to the Father,” said the Pope, “God makes all things new, rescues us from the tragedy of sin, and reveals to us the eternal destiny to which every man and woman is called.”

Turning to the people of Chiclayo, the former Bishop of this territory invited Catholics to walk together as one family of God under the mantle of the Mother of God.

“This family,” he said, “is confident that Mary Most Holy always shows us the sure path that leads to Jesus, who is the source of abundant life and truth, and who continually offers us new opportunities.”

Pope Leo XIV then addressed Our Lady directly, thanking her for teaching him to be attentive to the needs of the faithful of Chiclayo as he learned to be a Bishop.

“To your Immaculate Heart I entrust today my life and my ministry as Successor of Peter,” he prayed. “I also ask you to watch over and protect the People of God making their pilgrim way in these lands and to guide them always to your Son, Jesus Christ.”

In conclusion, Pope Leo offered a prayer through the intercession of the Virgin Mary.

Holy Mary, filled with the presence of God,
who throughout your earthly life humbly obeyed
the will of the Father and gave us an example of simplicity,
we beg you to continue walking with us,
and to obtain for us from your Son, Jesus Christ, through your maternal heart,
the gift of listening attentively to the Holy Spirit,
so that, with the help of his grace,
we may be ready to follow him faithfully,
to be builders of peace and reconciliation,
and servants of the Kingdom of God and of our brothers and sisters. Amen.

Saint of the Day for Saturday

 

St. Lawrence O'Toole

St. Lawrence, it appears, was born about the year 1125. When only ten years old, his father delivered him up as a hostage to Dermod Mac Murehad, King of Leinster, who treated the child with great inhumanity, until his father obliged the tyrant to put him in the hands of the Bishop of Glendalough, in the county of Wicklow. The holy youth, by his fidelity in corresponding with the divine grace, grew to be a model of virtues. On the death of the bishop, who was also abbot of the monastery, St. Lawrence was chosen abbot in 1150, though he was only twenty-five years old, and governed his numerous communities with wonderful virtue and prudence. In 1161 St. Lawrence was unanimously chosen to fill the new metropolitan See of Dublin. About the year 1171 he was obliged, for the affairs of his diocese, to go over to England to see the king, Henry II, who was then at Canterbury. The Saint was received by the Benedictine monks of Christ Church with the greatest honor and respect. On the following day, as the holy archbishop was going to the altar to officiate, a maniac, who had heard much of his sanctity, and who was led on by the idea of making so holy a man another St. Thomas, struck him a violent blow on the head. All present concluded that he was mortally wounded; but the Saint came to himself, asked for some water, blessed it, and having his wound washed with it, the blood was immediately stopped, and the Archbishop celebrated Mass. In 1175 Henry II of England became offended with Roderic, the monarch of Ireland, and St.Lawrence undertook another journey to England to negotiate a reconciliation between them. Henry was so moved by his piety, charity, and prudence that he granted him everything he asked, and left the whole negotiation to his discretion. Our Saint ended his journey here below on the 14th of November, 1180, and was buried in the church of the abbey at Eu, on the confines of Normandy. His feast day is November 14th.