Pope Leo on his visit to Peru: I am ‘returning to my homeland’

Approximately three million people were present to welcome Pope Leo XIV to Peru when he arrived at the government palace Nov. 11, celebrating the return of the spiritual shepherd who lived among them years before he was elected pope. 

During the welcome ceremony, Pope Leo met Peruvian President Keiko Sofía Fujimori Higuchi, the heads of protocol and the military household, and the commander of the guard along a red carpet, after which a youth choir performed the national anthems, according to the Holy See Press Office.

The apostolic journey has also been marked by a number of particularly heartfelt moments, including when Pope Leo diverted from the red carpet to greet children, including several children with Down syndrome from the choir. 

A homecoming rooted in faith, service

Later in the day, the Holy Father met with the authorities, civil society, and diplomatic corps, sharing in his address that he is happy to be back in Peru and about his long-cherished memories of serving as a missionary and later as bishop of Chiclayo. 

“This return visit holds a very special meaning for me,” he said. “My history with Peru began long before the Lord entrusted me with the Diocese of Chiclayo.”

For years, Pope Leo continued, “I shared in the lives of its people, listened to their concerns, and learned from their faith. Many opened the doors of their homes to me, shared their table with me — and, of course, some good ceviche — and made me feel like one of their own.”

He said receiving Peruvian citizenship in 2015 “symbolized a bond” that the Peruvian people had been weaving into his life long before. 

“Today I understand how much of this land remains with me and how much of my own story also belongs to you,” he continued. “Now I return as the Successor of Peter, called to serve the universal Church. In light of this responsibility, I recognize in those years a part of the journey through which the Lord was forming me as a shepherd. If I were granted the chance to relive those years, I would do so with joy, embracing both their happy moments and their difficulties. That is why I can tell you, with deep gratitude, that I am also returning to my homeland.”

A call for peace, dignity, and care for the vulnerable

He reflected on the history of Peru, which dates back thousands of years, and noted that various regions preserve their own traditions and contribute to national life. He also spoke about how public service must have concern for the good of others, keeping in mind the needs of those even who live far from where the decisions are made. He encouraged public officials to listen and cultivate honesty, integrity, and willingness to engage with others and highlighted the importance of living in a peaceful environment. 

“For families, peace has a very concrete meaning: going out to work without fear, caring for one’s children, and returning home with peace of mind,” Pope Leo said. “These are simple aspirations, but no one should be deprived of them. The Church is aware of the suffering caused by violence and wishes to remain close to those who endure it, encouraging the efforts of all who work to protect the life, dignity, and rights of people through law and justice.”

The Pontiff noted that many families quietly sacrifice and shoulder the weight of caring for the elderly, people with disabilities, and those suffering mental health challenges. He encouraged officials to support them through accessible healthcare and preventative medicine. 

“I also think of the many Peruvian women who have run soup kitchens and community meal programs, and of those who, through their professions and public responsibilities, contribute to the good of the country,” he said. “May all of them be able to freely develop their abilities, participate fully in their communities, and live free from violence and any form of exploitation.”

The Holy Father also highlighted that numerous communities in the Andean highlands and coastline depend on resources such as agriculture, fishing, or mining and urged for environmental stewardship to protect those living there. Science and technology also help anticipate risks posed by natural phenomena and offer the possibility of improving healthcare and educational opportunities to remote communities, he said. 

Later, he shared that he thinks “of the many Peruvians living abroad who, while building their lives in other lands, maintain their affection for their families and contribute to their communities of origin.” He said that in faraway cities the famous Peruvian image of the Lord of Miracles continues to bring Peruvians together and that cultivating the devotion offers a connection to their homeland. 

“Distance does not necessarily diminish love for one’s homeland; at times, it allows us to recognize more clearly how much we have received from it,” he said. “Those who come to Peru also bring stories and hopes that deserve to be welcomed and respected. Their stories show that relations between countries have very concrete consequences for the lives of families.” 

He also spoke about relations between Peru and the Holy See, noting that the Peruvian Constitution acknowledges the Church as important to the nation’s historical, cultural, and moral formation. 

“The Church, mindful of this recognition, wishes to continue offering the Peruvian people what it has received as its mission: to proclaim the Gospel, to accompany those who suffer, and to serve the dignity of every person,” he said. “This commitment is evident in its communities, in its educational and charitable works, and in the many lay faithful who, moved by their faith, participate in the life of the country through their professions and civic responsibilities.  May this relationship continue to develop with mutual respect, always seeking the good of all Peruvians.”

Pope Leo encourages Peruvian Church to continue its mission

On Nov. 12, Pope Leo met with the bishops of Peru, reflecting in an address to them about the saints who have served in Peru and about the importance of opening one’s heart to God. He then celebrated midday prayer with clergy, seminarians, and religious at the Basilica Cathedral of Saint John the Apostle and Evangelist, delivering a homily highlighting themes of faith in Christ, reconciliation, and mission. 

“It is a great joy for me to be once again on Peruvian soil, close to this Church which is so dear to me. I come as a father and brother in the faith, as a shepherd who loves his flock,” he said at the beginning of the homily. “I first came to Peru many years ago, sent to serve the People of God and build up his Kingdom, and to promote peace through justice, with particular concern for the weakest. I return today to encourage you to continue the work of spreading the Gospel, attentive to people’s lives and needs.”

After midday prayer, Pope Leo gave an address in the square in front of the cathedral on the Challenges and Hopes for the Future of the Peruvian People. The address came after four people provided testimonies to the Holy Father highlighting pressing concerns faced in the country, according to Vatican News. The key issues raised were difficulties faced by families, richness and challenges of cultural diversity, violence and discrimination against women, and challenges faced by entrepreneurs and workers. 

Human dignity at the heart of Peru’s future

Near the end of his address, Pope Leo emphasized that recognizing human dignity requires promoting respect and participation of women, saying that “their contribution to every sphere of society and the Church is indispensable.”

“It is sad to see that machismo persists, manifested in the absence of fathers from family life, in abuse and violence against women. This mentality disregards the newness of Christianity, which recognizes and proclaims that men and women possess equal dignity and responsibility,” he continued.

He said that women belonging to Indigenous and Afro-American communities and women in poverty are at risk of a double marginalization and emphasized that violence against women “continues to be a reality that wounds all of humanity.”

“I would like to renew an ardent appeal, not only to my brothers and sisters in the faith but to every man and woman of good will: let us value women! Let us protect and respect girls!” the Pope said. “The Church values the richness, talents and particular sensitivity of women, whose outstanding model is the Virgin Mary, ‘the New Woman and perfect Christian... summing up the most characteristic situations in the life of a woman’. Indeed, the Gospel presents her as a free and strong woman, always oriented toward authentic discipleship as she accompanied the Church in her mission.”

Regarding family challenges, he encouraged looking to the example of the Holy Family, who trusted God amid uncertainty and suffering. Ultimately, however, he said that the individual challenges “cannot be addressed in isolation,” because they are “deeply interdependent.” He pointed to the Church’s social doctrine to help with understanding this reality, saying that “at the center of every social, economic and political organization must be the human person, created in the image and likeness of God, endowed with infinite dignity and called to live in relationship with others.”

Human dignity is central to other principles guiding personal and institutional decisions, he said. He emphasized that human life begins not in a vacuum but begins at conception, through the love between a man and a woman. 

“Certainly, as you have said, cultural changes have altered the traditional roles of men and women, who seek to develop new attitudes and ways of life in the family and in society, sometimes by mistaken paths. This situation calls us to assert with even greater conviction that God created the human person male and female,” Pope Leo said, citing Genesis 1:27. “It is in this union alone that reciprocity and complementarity are expressed, giving rise to fatherhood and motherhood, filiation and fraternity, and everyone’s commitment to a better society.”

“Nevertheless, living the truth of our identities as male and female does not justify an unequal sharing of domestic responsibilities or the subordination of one spouse to the other,” he added. “We must continue working to harmonize the roles of men and women in families and affirm that both share the responsibility for building the future of society.”

At the end of the address he encouraged the faithful to live out their identity as “missionary disciples of Jesus Christ” by cultivating fraternity in homes, dignity in business, encounter in cultural differences, and opportunities for men and women in institutions. 

“In this way, we can move toward a just society in which the dignity of every person is the foundation of true peace,” he said. 

Pope Leo’s visit to Peru is the last leg of his apostolic journey that began Nov. 6 in Uruguay, followed by several days in Argentina. He will conclude the journey Nov. 17, after visiting Chiclayo, where he served as bishop from 2015 to 2023.