Pope Leo XIV concluded his 12-day tour of South America in Peru. He had previously visited Uruguay and Argentina. His return to his former home was enthusiastically celebrated by hundreds of thousands of people.
Image: Vatican Media/Catholic Press Photo/ipa-agency/picture alliance
Pope Leo XIV was warmly welcomed by hundreds of thousands of people upon his arrival in Peru. Along the route from the airport to the center of the capital, Lima, people crowded the streets to welcome the pontiff.
Image: Alessandro Cinque/REUTERS
For about two decades before his election as pope, US-born Leo lived in Peru, where he served as a missionary and bishop. He also holds Peruvian citizenship. At the welcoming ceremony, he met with Peruvian President Keiko Fujimori.
Image: Leslie Moreno Custodio/REUTERS
In his first speech, Pope Leo XIV called on Peru’s divided political factions to reach out to one another. He argued that many of the country’s pressing problems could best be resolved through dialogue and cooperation, in the interest of the people. Peru, with a population of about 35 million, has been struggling for years with political instability and a growing gap between the rich and the poor.
Image: Sebastian Castaneda/REUTERS
Many Peruvians are hoping that the visit of “their” pope will usher in better times. Chants of “El papa es peruano” (“The pope is Peruvian”) could be heard time and again. According to the Vatican, there are more than 390 million Catholics living in South America — significantly more than in Europe. Worldwide, the Catholic Church has about 1.4 billion members.
Image: Leslie Moreno Custodio/REUTERS
Weeks before Pope Leo XIV’s visit to Peru, the prospect of his return had already boosted the souvenir business. Vendors and manufacturers brought specially designed T-shirts, figurines and other fan merchandise to market. The designs depict the pope with Peruvian specialties, in the national colors or in front of the country’s famous landmarks, among other scenes.
Image: Angela Ponce/REUTERS
The enthusiasm goes far beyond that of an ordinary papal visit: Leo XIV is being celebrated like a pop star. His close ties to the country make him particularly approachable to the people. His itinerary also includes a trip to the Amazon rainforest and an excursion to the Andes at an altitude of 3,700 meters (12,139 feet), which has been met with skepticism due to the thin air at that altitude.
Image: Alessandro Cinque/REUTERS
In mid-October, Pope Leo XIV underwent surgery to remove a malignant tumor from his right lung. According to doctors, he is now cancer-free. He completed the first stages of his demanding trip to South America without any apparent health issues and enjoyed the welcome ceremony at the Gran Teatro Nacional in Lima.
Image: Sebastian Castaneda/REUTERS
Peru, where this large statue of him was erected, is the final stop on Pope Leo XIV’s twelve-day tour of South America. He had previously visited Uruguay and Argentina. In Uruguay, his itinerary included Montevideo and Florida, among other places; in Argentina, his trip took him to Buenos Aires, Cordoba and Lujan.
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