Pope Says It’s a ‘Joy’ to Be Home as Peru’s Chiclayo Welcomes Back Its Former Shepherd
The Vatican said 500,000 attended his first Mass in Peru, where he met clergy and seminarians after returning to his former diocese.
- Pope Leo XIV returned Friday to his beloved former diocese of Chiclayo, declaring 'What a joy it is to return to Chiclayo!' as he presided over Mass on the eighth day of his twelve-day South American apostolic journey.
- The world first heard of Leo's deep ties to Chiclayo on his papal election night, May 8, 2025, when he gave the city a Spanish shoutout from St. Peter's Basilica; Pope Francis had appointed him bishop there in 2014.
- Since arriving Wednesday, the normally reserved 71-year-old Leo has displayed uncharacteristic emotion, appearing giddy and tearful; he sang with 60,000 young Peruvians Thursday and joked with bishops about doubters questioning his recovery from recent lung cancer surgery.
- The Vatican estimated 1 million people lined Leo's motorcade route, with 500,000 attending the Mass under scorching 31 degrees Celsius heat, as crowds erupted into chants celebrating their pride in their shepherd leading more than 1.4 billion Catholics.
- Leo's afternoon schedule includes meetings with Chiclayo clergy and a speech at the Catholic university where he served as chancellor, an institution named for 16th-century Archbishop Mogrovejo, whose pastoral model of serving distant flocks Leo has embraced.
16 Articles
16 Articles
Pope says it’s a ‘joy’ to be home as Peru’s Chiclayo welcomes back its former shepherd
Pope Leo XIV returned Friday to his beloved former diocese of Chiclayo and said it was a “joy” to be home, an emotional homecoming that underscored his love for his Peruvian flock and their pride that their shepherd now runs the Catholic Church.
POPE Leo XIV returned to his former Peruvian diocese of Chiclayo, where, despite the intense heat, he was welcomed by hundreds of thousands of jubilant believers.
The Pope gave a special Mass in the place where he was bishop for more than eight years; he said he is overcoming his health problems
On an emotional journey marked by the return of Pope Leo XIV to Chiclayo, whose diocese he led for eight years, hundreds of thousands arrived at the air base where the pontiff landed.
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 34% of the sources lean Left, 33% of the sources are Center, 33% of the sources lean Right
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
