Pope Leo XIV returns to the Peruvian city of Chiclayo, where he lived and became bishop

We are in Chiclayo, the city of friendship. And look, this slogan is true, you know? We arrived today and we are very well received here. But today, this city of 600,000 inhabitants, in northern Peru, is much better known throughout the world as the city of the Pope. This here is the Chiclayo Cathedral, where Robert Prevost had his chair, the bishop's chair from which he commanded the entire diocese. He will only be here for two days, because he has a very intense schedule to make everyone miss him. Now at night, he still has commitments. Just now, he met with bishops, priests and religious in a sanctuary. Afterwards, he went to the university, where he was once grand chancellor and, in a little while, he has a dinner with the priests here in the region. The old-timers, people he knows, are friends with the vast majority. There he must be honored with the dish he liked most, northern-style goat. It is a goat stew that comes with rice and very brothy white beans. It has been a very emotional trip for the pope from the moment he stepped on this ground, said reporter Pedro Bassan.

It was such a special flight that the destination was written on the plane: "León XIV Vuela a Casa". Home is the Peruvian city of Chiclayo, where Robert Francis Prevost became bishop and lived until 2023, when he was called to Rome by then Pope Francis. Leo XIV was welcomed with the typical marinera dance, and he loves it. He continued surrounded by people through the city streets to say mass in the Pimentel pampas, 18 km from the Center. A million people were there, and another 500,000 on the sandy esplanade close to the sea. As strong as the sun, people's joy was upon seeing the Pope.