The Pope is coming home! Thousands of people enthusiastically welcomed Leo XIV. in Peru on Wednesday. For the former Bishop of Chiclayo, the return was an emotional reunion with his second home. But alongside cheers and heartfelt encounters, the head of the Church also had a serious message in his luggage: Peru's politicians must listen better to the people!
Lima, November 11, 2026. At 5:02 p.m. local time, the papal plane touched down at the Callao military airfield. After his stay in Argentina, Leo XIV. had arrived back in the country where he had worked for decades as a missionary and bishop. President Keiko Fujimori welcomed him together with representatives of the state and the Church. Flowers, music, and heartfelt encounters marked the start of his six-day journey.
Next, he traveled through the streets of the Peruvian capital, Lima. Thousands of believers waited for the Pope, waving flags and cheering for him. Leo XIV. greeted the people from the popemobile and gave them his blessing. For many, it was no ordinary papal visit: they welcomed the man they still knew as Robert Prevost from his time in Peru.
After the solemn reception at the Government Palace and a conversation with President Fujimori, the evening brought the political highlight. At the Gran Teatro Nacional, Leo XIV. spoke before government officials, diplomats, and members of civil society. He first recalled his own history in Peru. Families had welcomed him, shared their concerns with him, and even invited him to eat ceviche. In 2015, he received Peruvian citizenship. He therefore also described his return as a homecoming to his homeland.
Then the Pope spoke clearly! Politicians must care more about the people whose concerns often get lost in the daily business of government. Behind official files and statistics were families who expected answers to their problems. The people in remote regions, in particular, must not be forgotten. Leo XIV. urged honesty, mutual respect, and a democratic coexistence that does not allow political differences to become insurmountable divisions.
Everyday safety, the future of young people, and the dignity of families were also at the heart of his message. At the same time, the Pope praised Peru's cultural diversity, its indigenous languages, and the traditions of the Andes and the Amazon. The diverse roots of the population are not an obstacle, but a strength of the country.
To conclude the eventful day, Leo XIV. returned to the Apostolic Nunciature in Lima. There, believers were waiting for him again. From a balcony, he thanked them for the warm welcome, prayed with the people, and gave them his blessing. With a humorous remark about the neighbors who would eventually want to go to sleep, he once again caused laughter.
A day full of emotion – and a message that remains. Pope Leo XIV. was celebrated in Peru like a returning son. At the same time, he made it clear that his journey is intended to be more than a major religious event. His words about political responsibility, social reconciliation, and the concerns of the population were addressed to the entire country.
Northern Peru is now looking forward with particular anticipation to the coming days. On Friday, Leo XIV. will be expected in Chiclayo, where he served as bishop from 2015 to 2023. There, the man whom many believers still affectionately know as "Padre Roberto" is expected to meet his former congregation again.
