“The Pope Is Chiclayano!” — Pope Leo Returns to His Peruvian Home

A Homecoming Like No Other

Yellow-and-white Vatican flags filled the streets of Chiclayo on Friday, November 13, as Pope Leo XIV returned to the northern Peruvian city where he had served as bishop for eight years. Crowds cheered, waved banners and shouted that the Pope belonged to Chiclayo as his motorcade travelled towards the Pampas de Pimentel, an open desert area outside the city.

Local authorities estimated that around one million people lined the streets, while approximately 500,000 attended the outdoor Mass. Some had travelled overnight or walked several kilometres under the coastal sun to reach the gathering. For many, the occasion was less about seeing a visiting world leader than welcoming back someone they had known personally.

Leo, formerly Robert Francis Prevost, opened his homily by expressing his happiness at returning to Chiclayo. He also thanked the community for supporting him during his recent recovery from lung cancer surgery, which he underwent in October. The visit came exactly one month after the operation.

The American Who Became Peruvian

Born in Chicago, Prevost first went to Peru as an Augustinian missionary in 1985. He spent many years working in the country before returning in 2014 to lead the Diocese of Chiclayo, becoming its bishop in 2015. That same year, he acquired Peruvian citizenship.

His work took him well beyond church ceremonies. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he helped organize assistance for vulnerable families and supported efforts to obtain oxygen for hospitals. He also worked with communities affected by severe flooding and supported Venezuelan migrants arriving in northern Peru.

Residents remember a bishop who walked through neighbourhoods, listened to people's problems and remained accessible outside formal church settings. In interviews during the homecoming, former parishioners described encounters with a man they knew simply as Padre Roberto.

One of those memories came from American teacher Mikel Fuller, who worked with Prevost at a local school. Fuller attended Friday's Mass carrying an American flag, reflecting the Pope's connection to both countries. He recalled a bishop who listened carefully to people and tried to help them with their difficulties.

Returning to Familiar Places

The visit included a stop at the San Óscar Romero Chapel in one of Chiclayo's poorer neighbourhoods, a building Leo had helped rebuild during his years in the diocese. He also met local clergy and the university community, returning to institutions and people associated with his earlier work.

His message extended beyond religious observance. Speaking at the Catholic University of Santo Toribio de Mogrovejo, Leo questioned technological progress that benefits the wealthy while leaving poorer communities behind. He argued that scientific achievements should serve human dignity rather than deepen inequality.

The reunion was also personal for the Pope. During his first address after being elected in May 2025, he had specifically greeted his former diocese in Chiclayo. His return this November fulfilled a connection he had publicly maintained since becoming head of the Catholic Church.

A Journey Across South America

Chiclayo is the emotional centre of a 12-day papal journey through Uruguay, Argentina and Peru, which began on November 6. In Peru, Leo has also met political and religious leaders, young people and university students.

His itinerary continues on Sunday, November 15, with visits to Cusco and Pucallpa, including a meeting with representatives of Amazonian Indigenous communities. He is scheduled to return to Rome on November 16, arriving the following day.

For Chiclayo, however, the defining moment has already taken place. A man who once served its parishes and neighbourhoods has returned as Pope, greeted by a community that still regards him as one of its own.

Sources: Vatican — November 13 Mass and attendance; Reuters — Chiclayo homecoming; AFP — local memories and visit; Vatican — Pope Leo XIV biography; Vatican — official travel itinerary.