Pope Leo XIV returns to Peru and urges leaders to listen beyond the centers of power
The pope, a Peruvian citizen since 2015, arrived in Lima on Wednesday for the final leg of his South American tour. Addressing officials, he spoke about trust in institutions, safety, health care and opportunities for young people.
Pope Leo XIV's visit to Peru began on Wednesday, November 11, with a welcome at the Callao Air Base and a journey through Lima past crowds of well-wishers. President Keiko Fujimori received him before a gathering at the Gran Teatro Nacional. There, Robert Francis Prevost called the country where he spent more than two decades as a missionary and bishop his “homeland.”
The word carried a specific biographical meaning: Leo became a Peruvian citizen in 2015. He recalled sharing the daily lives of Peruvian families long before leading the Diocese of Chiclayo and learning about their concerns. “That is why I can tell you, with deep gratitude, that I am also returning to my homeland,” he said in an address published in full by Vatican News.
His homecoming also gave him a chance to speak to those in power. Leo said public decisions reach people far from the places where they are made and urged officials to listen to communities in a country with many languages. Behind case files and statistics, he said, are people who need answers and an explanation of decisions affecting their lives.
The pope linked trust in institutions to honesty and a willingness to engage across disagreements. Describing what peace means in everyday family life, he spoke of being able to leave for work without fear and return home safely. He also called for job opportunities for young people, accessible health care and support for people caring for older, ill or disabled relatives.
His address reflected Peru's diversity. He named Quechua, Aymara and Amazonian languages, and acknowledged Afro-Peruvian and Asian-Peruvian contributions to the country's identity. He also spoke of women who run community kitchens, saying they should be able to participate fully in their communities and live free from violence and exploitation.
Turning to the environment, he said farming, fishing and mining must be carried out with care for nature and respect for the communities that depend on it. He called for institutions able to anticipate and respond to natural hazards. He described artificial intelligence as a potential aid to health care and education, while calling for legal safeguards against abuse.
In her welcome address, Fujimori expressed hope that the visit would advance national reconciliation. She acknowledged the political divisions evident in the elections and connected reconciliation with reducing poverty and protecting children, according to Vatican News.
Peru is the final stop on Leo's tour of Uruguay and Argentina. The Holy See's official schedule includes events in Lima, Chiclayo, Cusco and Pucallpa through Monday, November 16. Chiclayo will have particular significance: Leo led its diocese before taking on responsibilities in Rome and becoming pope.
