Over 231,000 Soles for renovated churches, a new exhibition space, and a pilgrim route with eight stations! Chulucanas in the Piura region is gearing up for religious tourism. Because it was here, more than 40 years ago, that the extraordinary story of the current Pope in Peru began.
The Pope was once a missionary here!
In 1985, Robert Francis Prevost arrived in Chulucanas as a young Augustinian missionary. He worked in the local parishes, celebrated masses, and accompanied the people in their daily lives. At the time, no one could have guessed that this American clergyman would one day lead the Catholic Church.
His history is particularly closely linked to the parish of San José Obrero, where he was active upon his arrival. Later, he also served at the Sagrada Familia church. His years in northern Peru shaped his ecclesiastical career, which eventually led him via the bishopric of Chiclayo all the way to Rome. Today, the former missionary is Pope Leo XIV, and his former place of work could develop into a significant international pilgrimage destination.
231,695 Soles! Now the churches are being spruced up
Chulucanas is investing heavily in its religious sights. On September 24, Peru's Vice Minister for Tourism, Liz Chirinos, visited the city and inspected the modernization work at the parish of San José Obrero and the Sagrada Familia Cathedral. A total of approximately 231,695 Soles from public and private funds was provided for this purpose.
At the parish of San José Obrero, the roof was repaired, the electrical system was improved, new lighting was installed, and damaged building parts were restored. The Sagrada Familia Cathedral also received a comprehensive refresh. Its facade was painted, the exterior lighting was modernized, and the ventilation was improved. The work is intended to make both houses of worship more attractive to additional pilgrims and tourists.
The investments are intended not only to preserve the historical churches but also to create new economic opportunities. Hotels, restaurants, transport companies, and local merchants hope for additional visitors who will stay in the region longer during their pilgrimage and make use of further tourism offerings.
This is how much money is flowing into Chulucanas
Caja Piura: 118,695 S/ · City Administration: 55,000 S/ · Ministry of Tourism: 35,000 S/ · Quinta Blanca: 13,000 S/ · CIVA: 10,000 S/.
New exhibition space! His story comes to life here
The new "Pope Leo XIV" exhibition space has been opened in the Sagrada Familia Cathedral. It is dedicated to the life of the Pope and his special connection to Chulucanas. Visitors receive information there about his missionary work and the years he spent in northern Peru. This creates an additional point of interest for pilgrims who want to learn more about the history of the head of the Catholic Church.
The Peruvian Ministry of Tourism provided 35,000 Soles for tourist information boards, explanations, and visitor information. The city wants to make its connection to the Pope permanently visible and also appeal to travelers who are interested in history and culture in addition to religious sights.
Eight stations! In the footsteps of Leo XIV through northern Peru
The so-called "Ruta de León" leads pilgrims and tourists to places connected to the Pope's history. In total, the route comprises eight stations in Chulucanas and Santo Domingo. Six of them are related to his ecclesiastical work, while two others present the cultural traditions of northern Peru.
The most important stations include the parish of San José Obrero and the Sagrada Familia Cathedral. The bishop's seat of Chulucanas and the local pastoral center are also part of the route. In Santo Domingo, visitors can tour the Santo Domingo de Guzmán church and the Villa la Buena Nueva ecclesiastical training center. These facilities commemorate the religious and social work of the current Pope.
The other two stations lead to La Encantada and Cruz Pampa near Yapatera. In La Encantada, the focus is on the traditional ceramic art of Chulucanas. Yapatera, in turn, is known for its Afro-Peruvian culture and the traditional Cumananas. The pilgrim route thus connects religious history with the cultural heritage of the Piura region.
Papal visit! Northern Peru hopes for a tourist boom
The announced return of Pope Leo XIV to Peru lends the pilgrim route additional attention. After all, he spent a significant part of his ecclesiastical career in this country. After his missionary work in Chulucanas, he later became Bishop of Chiclayo and remained closely connected to Peru for many years.
For the tourism industry, this special connection opens up new economic opportunities. Hotels could accommodate additional guests, restaurants could serve more visitors, and local tour operators could offer new excursions. Smaller communities along the route could also benefit. Whether a significant increase in visitors will actually materialize, however, remains open. Reliable forecasts regarding the number of additional tourists have not yet been published.
From the Pope's church straight to the potters!
Chulucanas has much more to offer than just religious sights. The city is internationally known for its traditional ceramic art, whose characteristic shapes and decorations are based on centuries-old regional traditions. The workshops in La Encantada, in particular, are among the cultural attractions of the region and offer visitors the opportunity to learn about the production of ceramics firsthand.
The Ruta de León therefore connects churches and religious history with regional handicrafts. Pilgrims can travel in the footsteps of the Pope and simultaneously get to know the traditions of northern Peru. Yapatera is also part of this cultural offering. The town is known for its Afro-Peruvian population and the Cumananas, a traditional form of orally transmitted poetry and singing.
From Piura to Chulucanas: How the pilgrimage works
The regional tourism authority has already organized a guided trip from Piura via Chulucanas to Santo Domingo. The tour at that time began at seven o'clock in the morning in Piura and first led to the Sagrada Familia Cathedral. Afterward, the participants visited the ceramic workshops of the region before traveling on to Santo Domingo after a shared lunch.
There, the church of Santo Domingo de Guzmán and the Villa la Buena Nueva training center were on the program. The trip was accompanied by officially registered tour guides. Such a day trip shows how religious sights can be combined with culture and regional gastronomy. Whether that tour is now offered regularly, however, is not confirmed.
Northern Peru wants more than sun and sand!
For the Piura region, the Pope's route opens up an additional tourist perspective. Until now, many international vacationers have primarily associated northern Peru with the beaches of Máncora, Vichayito, and Punta Sal. Chulucanas now wants to attract pilgrims and culture-seeking travelers as well and establish itself as an important location for religious tourism.
The modernized churches, the new exhibition space, and the eight stations of the Ruta de León form a foundation for this. It will be decisive whether the region continues to invest in visitor information, transport links, accommodation, and tourist offerings in the long term. In any case, the international fame of Pope Leo XIV offers Chulucanas the opportunity to make its religious history known far beyond the borders of Peru.
Sources: MINCETUR, 09/24/2026 · Agencia Andina, 09/24/2026 · Gestión, 09/24/2026 · DIRCETUR Piura, 2025 and 2026
