Pope Leo’s return to Chiclayo draws huge crowds in Peru

Pope Leo XIV has celebrated Mass near Chiclayo, the northern Peruvian city where he served as bishop and built close ties with local communities. The visit has drawn a large crowd and stirred a sense of homecoming in a place that regards him as one of its own.

The service took place on Friday in a park in Pimentel, about 10km from Chiclayo, during the Pope’s tour of Latin America. The Vatican estimated that more than 1.5 million people gathered to welcome him. Some had travelled for hours or spent the night waiting; temperatures rose above 30C.

“Thank you for your affection, support and prayers,” Leo told the crowd. He also thanked them for their prayers for his health, saying he was overcoming a difficult period after recent surgery for lung cancer.

Leo, formerly known as Robert Prevost, lived in Peru for long periods between 1985 and 2023 and became a Peruvian citizen in 2015. He was bishop of Chiclayo from 2015 to 2023. For residents, those years have made the Pope’s return especially personal.

“The Pope has come home and Chiclayo is celebrating,” said Lisbeth Díaz, a teacher who worked with him in the city. She recalled his efforts to help Venezuelan migrants secure residency and work permits, saying he coordinated with migration authorities and other organisations.

Local people also remember his work during the Covid-19 pandemic, including helping launch soup kitchens, and his response to flooding in the region. A small museum at the entrance to the bishop’s residence displays photographs and other reminders of his time there.

Parish priest Samuel David Miranda Atoche, whom Prevost ordained when he was bishop, said the future Pope had brought Peruvians closer to the Church. “If there is one thing Bishop Prevost worked for here, it was unity,” he said.

The visit has also brought a sharp rise in visitors to the area. Chiclayo and its surroundings normally have about 800,000 residents, but estimates suggest the number has doubled during the Pope’s visit. Local businesses have sought to capitalise on the crowds, while hotels have sharply increased room rates.

Peru is the longest stop on Leo’s first Latin American tour since his election in May 2025. His visit has also included Argentina and Uruguay, but his years in Peru have given the country a particular place in the trip.