Pope Leo XIV consecrated his Petrine ministry to the Immaculate Heart of Mary during a Mass at the Cathedral of St. Mary in Chiclayo, Peru, marking a deeply personal emotional homecoming on his South American apostolic journey.
The Vatican News reported that the Pontiff presided over the coronation of the image of the Immaculate Mother at the cathedral where he took his initial steps in episcopal ministry. He told the gathered faithful that the crowning serves as a symbol of gratitude and filial love, recognizing Mary as the caring mother and protector of Chiclayo.
Earlier in the week, Pope Leo arrived at the Callao Air Base in Lima, where Peruvian President Keiko Fujimori and Foreign Minister Carlos Espa welcomed him. Manorama Online said that the arrival carried the feeling of a homecoming for the US-born pontiff, who previously served in Peru as an Augustinian friar and bishop in Chiclayo from 2015 to 2023.
During his address in Lima outside the Cathedral of St. John the Apostle and Evangelist, the Pope called for the protection of women and their active participation in society and the Church. Manorama News reported that the Pontiff urged society to build an environment where everyone can live with dignity and contribute to the common good.
The papal itinerary also included a stop in Argentina prior to arriving in Peru. Times Kerala reported that Pope Leo delivered a critique of President Javier Milei’s austerity measures upon arriving in Buenos Aires, emphasizing that economic policies should serve the people rather than forcing vulnerable populations to the bottom of the system.
In Chiclayo, drawing from the Book of Isaiah, the Pontiff warned that darkness, violence, and uncertainty continue to threaten humanity. He said that Christ remains the sole light capable of illuminating the hidden corners of human existence and saving society from the destructive consequences of sin.
The Pope recalled his years serving the local communities, noting that he learned to be a shepherd of Chiclayo close to the Immaculate Virgin. He officially entrusted his life and ministry as the successor of Peter to her Immaculate Heart.
The Pontiff is scheduled to visit Cuzco and Pucallpa before returning to Lima on November 16 for his departure to Rome, as reported by Manorama Online.
