Pope Leo XIV returned on Friday (13) to Chiclayo, in northern Peru, the city where he lived for almost a decade before heading to the Vatican. Received by thousands of faithful along the route between the airport and the Pimentel pampas, the pontiff celebrated an open mass attended by around 500,000 people, according to the Vatican.
During the ceremony, he thanked the prayers received after surgery to treat lung cancer carried out just over a month ago. This Saturday (14), he visits the ancient "cursed" city of Zaña, in the north of the country.
The Pope's history with Peru
Leo XIV returned this Friday (13) to one of the most important places in his religious trajectory.
In Chiclayo, a city in northern Peru where he lived for almost a decade before heading to the Vatican, the pontiff was received by a crowd and celebrated an open mass that, according to the Vatican, brought together around 500,000 people.
The visit to Chiclayo is considered one of the most symbolic moments of the Pope's trip to South America since November 6th. It was there that he consolidated much of his pastoral work and built the relationship that would help transform him into one of the best-known figures in the Catholic Church in the country.
Leo XIV landed in the city at around 9 am local time, to a festive reception. From the airport, he headed to the Pimentel pampas, where he would celebrate the most awaited mass on the Peruvian schedule.
Along the approximately 17 kilometer route, thousands of people watched the papal convoy pass by.
When he arrived at the celebration site, the extensive desert terrace was already filled with believers coming from different regions of Peru.
When addressing the crowd, the pontiff referred both to the bond he maintains with Chiclayo and to his recent period of recovery in health.
"What a joy to return to Chiclayo. It is a blessing for me to be with you again. Thank you for your love, support and prayers, especially for my health in this trying time that, with God's help, I am overcoming", he stated.
Just over a month ago, Leo XIV underwent surgery to treat lung cancer. Since then, each public appearance has been accompanied by expressions of support from Catholics in different countries.
The return of "Father Roberto" At the end of the day's activities, Leo XIV returned to a familiar address. During the two nights of the visit, he will stay in the archdiocese he commanded between 2015 and 2023, before his transfer to the Vatican.
The gesture has a strong symbolic value for the residents of Chiclayo, who continue to refer to the pontiff by the name used during the years in which he held religious functions in the city. For many inhabitants, Leo XIV remains simply “Father Roberto”.
The connection built over almost ten years helps explain the mobilization registered on Friday. The visit was treated by residents less as the return of the leader of the Catholic Church and more as the return of a well-known figure in the community.
In the city center, close to the archdiocese, groups of residents and tourists gathered throughout the day to watch the movement. The Main Park of Chiclayo, where the local cathedral is located, remained occupied by visitors and faithful.
"Cursed" city
And the city of Zaña, in northern Peru, awaits this Saturday (14) the arrival of Pope Leo XIV with the hope of leaving behind a fame that spans centuries.
Known in the country as the "cursed city", the town was an important commercial center during Spanish colonial times before being devastated by major floods that almost erased it from the map. The tragedies fueled legends of divine punishment that are still part of the region's collective memory.
Residents believe that the passage of Leo XIV could mark a symbolic turning point for the city. Born in Chicago, Robert Prevost became a Peruvian citizen in 2015 after almost two decades living in the country.
The visit also coincides with celebrations linked to Saint Toribio of Mogrovejo, patron saint of Zaña, whom the pontiff has already referred to as an example of missionary dedication. Faithful coming from various cities in the region take part in the preparations to welcome him.
