CHICLAYO, PERU — Pope Leo XIV returned to his former diocese on Friday, receiving a massive welcome from hundreds of thousands of faithful as he visited the Peruvian city where he spent years serving as a missionary priest and bishop.
Known locally during his tenure as “Padre Robert,” the Chicago-born pontiff celebrated his first Mass on Peruvian soil on a dusty field outside Chiclayo. Vatican estimates indicated that 500,000 people attended the service, with 1 million lining the motorcade route.
Addressing the crowd, the pope spoke about his return and his ongoing recovery from lung cancer surgery a month prior.
“What a joy it is to return to Chiclayo! It is a blessing for me to be with you once again,” he said, adding that he was recovering “with God’s help.”
Local residents expressed immense pride and excitement over the papal visit.
“I’m elated. He has decided to return to Chiclayo and we have him here, with us — home,” said Julie Albujar, who helped manage the collection at the Mass. “This is a party and it’s a sign of our faith and our love for the pope.”
The 71-year-old pontiff led the diocese from 2014 until 2023, guiding the community through crises including the COVID-19 pandemic, severe floods, and a surge of Venezuelan migrants. Local vendor Rolando Antonio Mendoza noted the pope’s enduring connection to the region.
“Even though he’s now Pope Leo XIV, he hasn’t forgotten about his homeland,” Mendoza said.
During his visit, Pope Leo also addressed students at a local Catholic university, warning against technology that bypasses human dignity and economic justice.
“Precisely because scientific progress is a supreme achievement of human intelligence, it must not be confused with a privilege reserved for millionaires seeking immortality, while entire peoples suffer from poverty and oppression,” he warned.
Seminarian Darwin Sánchez, who carried the pope’s miter, reflected on the pontiff’s approachable nature and personal mentorship.
“He’s approachable, happy and he gave me the strength and courage to follow my vocation,” Sánchez said.
The celebration concluded with the crowd joyfully chanting in Spanish as the Mass came to a close:
“El papa es Chiclayano!”