Pope Leo XIV Returns to Peru as Part of South American Tour

Pope Leo XIV, the US-born pontiff, is set to return to Peru as part of a three-nation South American tour. His connection to Peru dates back to 1985 when he was sent as a missionary by the Augustinian order to transform the small town of Chulucanas in the poverty-stricken Piura region into a Catholic diocese. He ministered to the poor, denounced excesses of power, and advocated for action on climate change.

During his time in Peru, Prevost, also known as Father Roberto, contracted typhoid fever and was hospitalized for the first time in his life. He returned to the United States in 1986 but came back to Peru in 1988 to settle in the northwestern city of Trujillo. There, he served as head of an Augustinian seminary, superior, teacher, parish priest, and ecclesiastical judge. His experience in Peru profoundly shaped his path to the papacy.

In the 1990s, Peru was convulsed by violence as the state waged war against the brutal Maoist Shining Path insurgents. The Shining Path murdered three foreign priests in August 1991 in the northern region of Ancash. Despite the danger, Prevost declined a bodyguard offered by the Augustinian order, saying, "I don't look like the typical gringo. I'm a little bit darker" in complexion.

As bishop of Chiclayo, appointed by Pope Francis in 2014, Prevost participated in a beatification mass for the three priests murdered in 1991. He was a passionate ambassador of Francis's encyclical Laudato Si, focusing on caring for the planet as "our common home". He also sought to heal the wounds of Peru's past, urging former president Alberto Fujimori to "personally apologize" to the victims.

Prevost defended the right to protest during deadly anti-government demonstrations and traveled to a region hit by flooding to advocate for the victims, standing ankle-deep in water. In April 2023, he moved to Rome as head of the Dicastery for Bishops, the Vatican body responsible for pre-selecting bishops. Two years later, in his first speech as pope, he gave a special mention to Peru and his "beloved diocese of Chiclayo".

Theologian Veronique Lecaros, author of a book about the pope's time in Peru, noted that Prevost's approach to poverty would have been different without knowing Peru and getting his hands dirty. Residents in Chulucanas warmly welcomed him and Hispanicized his name, calling him Father Roberto. Prevost took Peruvian citizenship in 2015, reflecting his enduring love for the country.

As Pope Leo XIV, he continues to draw on his experience in Peru, having ministered to the poor and advocated for social justice. His return to Peru is seen as a significant moment for the country, and he will likely continue to inspire his followers with his message of compassion and care for the planet.

Key points

• Pope Leo XIV returns to Peru as part of a three-nation South American tour.
• He was a missionary, parish priest, and bishop in Peru for nearly two decades.
• Prevost's experience in Peru profoundly shaped his path to the papacy.