Pope Leo XIV arrived in Peru for a six-day visit, the final leg of an 11-day South American tour that included stops in Uruguay and Argentina. The pontiff, born Robert Prevost in Chicago, is the first pope from the United States and holds Peruvian citizenship. His visit has generated significant enthusiasm among Peruvians, with tens of thousands lining the streets of Lima as his motorcade traveled from the airport to the presidential palace earlier in the week.
Prevost’s connection to Peru spans four decades, with approximately 20 years spent in pastoral work beginning in 1985 when he arrived in Chulucanas as a young Augustinian missionary. He served as bishop of Chiclayo until departing in 2023, during which time he became deeply embedded in the community. His tenure was marked by direct engagement with residents, including walking neighborhood streets and participating in local life. During his inaugural papal address in May 2025, he switched from Italian to Spanish to reference his former diocese, underscoring the emotional significance of his Peruvian roots.
Prevost gained particular recognition for his work during the Covid-19 pandemic, administering last rites to victims and raising approximately $380,000 through Catholic Caritas to purchase oxygen plants when Peru faced critical shortages. He also addressed the humanitarian crisis created by Venezuelan migration, with approximately 20,000 migrants passing through Chiclayo and 3,500 families settling in the region around 2018. Colleagues recall his hands-on approach, including personally delivering aid to remote areas by helicopter and engaging directly with affected populations rather than directing efforts from administrative positions.
During the visit, Pope Leo met with six victims of clerical abuse, a meeting that lasted over an hour and involved individual listening sessions. The Vatican indicated that discussions focused on fostering institutional changes regarding victim support and safe environment creation. His visit coincides with ongoing scrutiny of abuse allegations within the Peruvian church, with a U.S.-based NGO recently publishing a list of 77 accused clergy members. Pope Francis, Leo’s predecessor, dissolved the Peru-based Catholic movement Sodalitium in 2025 due to abuse scandals, though related elements continue to face investigation.
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