Pope Leo XIV Celebrates Mass Near Chiclayo, Peru, Where He Is Considered One of Their Own

The key facts

The Mass took place on Friday in Pimentel park, about 10 km from Chiclayo; the Vatican estimates the crowd at more than 1.5 million people
Leo XIV lived in Peru from 1985 to 2023 and received Peruvian citizenship in 2015
The pontiff said that, with God's help, he is overcoming a period of trials after his recent lung surgery

Mass in Pimentel

Pope Leo XIV celebrated Mass on Friday in the park of the city of Pimentel, about 10 km from Chiclayo in northern Peru. The ceremony was part of the pontiff's first tour of Latin America, which also includes Argentina and Uruguay; Peru is the longest stop of the trip. According to the Vatican's estimate, more than 1.5 million people gathered for the Mass. Some faithful took their places 12 hours before the start, spending the night in prayerful vigil at temperatures above 30 °C; people came from different regions of Peru and neighboring countries.

'The Pope from Chiclayo'

Robert Prevost, elected pope in May 2025, lived in Peru from 1985 to 2023 and received Peruvian citizenship in 2015. From 2015 to 2023 he was bishop of Chiclayo, and for the city his return became a deeply personal event: during the Mass, shouts of 'The Pope from Chiclayo!' rang out from the field. Schoolteacher Lisbet Diaz, who worked with him during his time as bishop, said: 'The Pope has come home, and Chiclayo is celebrating.' Local parish priest Samuel David Miranda Atoche, ordained by Prevost himself, called it the return of a man who 'brought Peruvians closer to the Church.'

Health and Words of Gratitude

Addressing the faithful, the pope thanked them 'for the affection, support and prayers,' and also — 'especially for my health during this period of trials, which I am overcoming with God's help.' He was referring to surgery for lung cancer performed just a few weeks earlier; according to the Vatican, it was successful. 'When I look at your faces, a prayer of gratitude to the Lord is born in my heart for the blessing you have been and remain in my life,' he said from the stage.

What Peruvians Remember

In Chiclayo, people recall everyday details — the pontiff's love of tennis and Peruvian dishes at the El Trébol restaurant near the cathedral — as well as more serious episodes: organizing soup kitchens for the poor during the Covid-19 pandemic and riding on horseback through flooded areas during the floods. Diaz, who came to Chiclayo from Venezuela, recounted that the future pope, seeing many migrants on the streets, contacted the migration authorities and coordinated work with other organizations to speed up the processing of residence permits and work permits. His time as bishop also included difficult decisions: he had to deal with the scandal surrounding the dissolution of the Peruvian Catholic organization Sodalitium of Christian Life, which had faced accusations of sexual abuse for decades. Peruvian writer and journalist Santiago Roncagliolo, who has studied the pope's biography, believes it was precisely his actions in this crisis that earned him the favor of his predecessor — Pope Francis — and helped his path to the papacy.

A City in Celebration

Normally about 800,000 people live in Chiclayo and its surroundings, but according to available estimates, the pope's visit doubled that number. Local businesses took advantage of his popularity to boost sales, and hotels significantly raised their nightly rates — though this did not deter those gathered for the Mass. On the square in front of the Chiclayo cathedral, celebrations continued for several days before the ceremony began.