Three million Peruvians flooded the streets of Lima to welcome Pope Leo XIV as he arrived for the final six-day leg of his South American journey, according to Agenzia ANSA.
The massive turnout marks an extraordinary homecoming for the pontiff, widely known as “Padre Roberto” from his decades serving as a missionary and bishop in the country. “È per me motivo di profonda gioia tornare in Perù,” the Pope said. “Questo ritorno ha per me un significato molto speciale. Ritorno nella mia patria.”
Speaking at the Gran Teatro Nacional, Robert Prevost reflected on a relationship with the nation that began long before his elevation to the papacy, as detailed in reporting by La Stampa.
Having received Peruvian citizenship in 2015, the pontiff emphasized his deep integration into local life. “Molti mi hanno aperto la porta di casa, si sono seduti a tavola con me, mi hanno fatto sentire uno di loro,” he told authorities and diplomats.
Italian bishop Domenico Mogavero observed that a pope returning to his roots often faces a distinct vulnerability when confronting the foundations of his ministry, according to La Stampa’s coverage.
Peruvian President Keiko Fujimori addressed the pontiff during her official remarks, expressing a nation’s collective aspiration. “La sua visita ci doni la conciliazione nazionale,” she said.
Before touching down in Lima, Pope Leo’s journey through Argentina drew historic crowds totaling an estimated 6 to 7 million faithful across various masses and vigils, culminating in a gathering of more than two million believers at the sanctuary of Luján.
In an unscripted moment of profound significance, the pontiff met with Alba Camargo, a woman whose parents and uncles were abducted during the nation’s military dictatorship. Incontrando il Papa, Camargo ha fatto una richiesta diretta riguardo ai desaparecidos. “Cerchiamo i resti degli scomparsi qui a Córdoba, aiutaci,” she told him.
The pontiff also visited the historic Villa Devoto prison in Buenos Aires, addressing inmates with a message of hope. “Un’altra vita è possibile,” he told them, emphasizing that everyone must hold that possibility in their hearts. The prison serves as a record of the dark years between 1976 and 1983, encompassing both a clandestine center for torture and the site of the tragic March 14, 1978, "Padiglione Sette" massacre where 65 detainees perished.
Back in Peru, where a towering 14-meter statue crafted from fiberglass and white marble was recently inaugurated in his honor, the focus centers squarely on civil dignity and social cohesion. Addressing the civil society, the Pope said that genuine democracy requires recognizing that no single individual holds every answer.
“Amare un popolo significa desiderare che tutti possano vivere in esso con dignità,” Pope Leo said.
Earlier coverage: Pope Leo XIV Arrives in Peru to Begin Six-Day Apostolic Journey
