Pope Leo XIV Welcomed by an Estimated 3 Million People in Peru

Pope Leo XIV arrived in Peru on Wednesday, Nov. 11, for the final leg of his trip to South America. Local authorities estimated that 3 million people took part in the welcome, which would be the largest crowd of his pontificate. The visit has particular significance for Peru: before becoming pope, Robert Francis Prevost spent nearly 20 years working in the country and became a naturalized Peruvian citizen. “I am deeply happy to return to Peru,” he said in his first speech there.

Leo reflected on the years he spent in the country, saying Peruvians had shared their lives and faith with him. He said many people welcomed him into their homes and shared meals with him, including ceviche, making him feel like one of their own. The pope was received by President Keiko Fujimori.

In his remarks, Leo urged politicians to serve the public and pursue the common good. People who turn to institutions, he said, expect to be heard, understand decisions that affect them and find someone they can approach with confidence. Behind routine paperwork or an abstract figure in a national census, he said, are individuals waiting for answers that affect their peace of mind.

Without naming Keiko Fujimori’s father, former President Alberto Fujimori, the pope said Peru had endured difficult times and that past events should be addressed with justice and sensitivity. Alberto Fujimori was in power from 1990 to 2000 and spent 16 years in prison for human rights violations. While serving as a bishop, Robert Prevost publicly criticized the former president and the pardon he received in 2017.

Leo also stressed environmental protection ahead of a planned visit to the Peruvian Amazon. He said the Amazon’s rivers, the Andes and the country’s extensive coastline shape the lives and livelihoods of many communities. Agriculture, fishing and mining, he said, require care for nature and respect for communities that depend on it. Understanding each territory, he added, can help anticipate natural hazards and better protect residents.

Before arriving in Peru, Leo visited Devoto Prison in Buenos Aires on Wednesday. He heard accounts from incarcerated men and a former inmate about faith and recovery, and embraced the men who shared their stories.