Pope Leo XIV makes his long-awaited return to Peru

 

(VATICAN MEDIA)

Pope

• Pope Leo XIV
• Peru

Pope Leo arrives in Peru for final leg of Apostolic Journey

Pope Leo begins his six-day visit to Peru at Callao Air Base, where he is greeted by the people of Peru, who welcome him with open arms.

By Francesca Merlo – Lima, Peru

Pope Leo XIV arrived in Peru on Wednesday, 11 November, opening the third and final leg of his Apostolic Journey to South America after visits to Uruguay and Argentina.

The papal plane landed at Callao Air Base, where President Keiko Fujimori and Foreign Minister Carlos Espá welcomed the Pope. Two children presented him with a bouquet of flowers, and he thanked them with a hug.

A choir, Sinfonía por el Perú, made up of 27 children, sang as various groups waited to greet the Pope. He took time to stop and bless people with disabilities and several babies. Children offered him small gifts before he went on to greet the Vatican delegation.

Children greet Pope Leo as he arrives in Peru (VATICAN MEDIA)

From Callao to Lima

The Pope will then make his way up to Avenida Brazil where he is due to swap cars and get into his popemobile so as to be able to greet the faithful lining the streets as he makes his way to the Presidential Palace for the official welcome ceremony and his meeting with President Keiko Fujimori. Pope Leo's first evening in Peru will conclude at the Grand National Theatre, where he will deliver his first address of the visit to the country’s authorities, representatives of civil society and members of the diplomatic corps.

From Lima to Chiclayo, the Andes and the Amazon

Pope Leo’s first visit to Peru since his election brings him back to a country where he served for many years as an Augustinian missionary and later as Bishop of Chiclayo, from 2015 to 2023. He will return to that northern city on Friday to celebrate Mass on the Pampas de Pimentel.

On Thursday, he will meet Peru’s bishops and preside over Midday Prayer in Lima’s cathedral. He will then take part in a meeting on the challenges and hopes of the Peruvian people in the square outside the Cathedral. The visit will also take him to Cusco, where he will pray the Angelus at Saqsaywaman, and to Pucallpa, where he will meet missionaries and representatives of Amazonian peoples. He will return to Lima for Mass at Las Palmas Air Base on Monday, 16 November, before departing for Rome.