Pope Leo XIV Returns to Peru: A Homecoming for the First American Pope
Discover how first American-born Pope, Leo XIV, returns returns to Chiclayo, Peru, after decades of service as a missionary and bishop.
POLICY WIRE — Chiclayo, Peru — The first pontiff born in the United States is set to return to Peru, the nation where he spent decades serving as a missionary priest and a bishop.
While Peru is not the birthplace of Robert Francis Prevost, the country serves as a spiritual homeland for the Pope, following his extensive history of religious work in Latin America.
This visit marks the final and most significant leg of the Pope’s Apostolic Journey, which will also include stops in Uruguay and Argentina before arriving in South America.
The Vatican has officially published the schedule for the trip, taking place between November 6 and 16, revealing a significant focus on the city of Chiclayo.
Pope Leo XIV is slated to spend two full days in Chiclayo, though the time allotted to the Archdiocese of Lima is expected to be much more brief.
The desire for this visit was long-standing; just one week after he became Pope, the former Father Prevost expressed to a secretary his deep wish to return to the city he once called home.
Preparations are already underway for the arrival, including a massive statue of Pope Leo being positioned on the Pacific coast, while an artist from Kansas is even creating a portrait of the Pope’s face using the local soil.
Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)
