Pope Leo XIV held an open-air Mass in Chiclayo, Peru, attended by around half a million people, during his South America tour.
By Hermes Vector
Pope Leo XIV celebrated an open-air Mass in Chiclayo, Peru, where around half a million people took part in the service on the desert plain of Pampas de Pimentel near the city, according to RMF24 reporting via UA.NEWS. The Mass was part of the Pope's South America tour.
Leo XIV was Bishop of Chiclayo from 2015 to 2023. According to the Vatican, which cited local authorities, around one million people greeted him along the route of the papal motorcade from the airport and in the city itself. Some of those present held flags reading "Welcome home."
Before the Mass began, the pontiff spent a long time driving through the sectors, greeting the faithful. In his homily, he thanked the residents of Chiclayo for their love, support and prayers, including prayers for his health. A month earlier, the pope underwent surgery to remove a lung tumor.
During the service, Leo XIV stressed that proclaiming faith must be linked to love for one's neighbor and assistance for people in need. He noted that love must be expressed in actions and respect for others, and also spoke about the connection between the Gospel and the desire to change social structures.
The pope also said that the transmission of faith has almost completely ceased in some regions of the world. According to him, this requires courage in confronting religious indifference, materialism and selfishness. The Mass was held in hot weather, so firefighters sprayed the attendees with water. Polish missionaries serving in Peru were among the participants in the service.
According to Fakti.bg, temperatures exceeded 30 degrees Celsius before noon. Soldiers handed out water, while firefighters cooled the pilgrims before the service. Families left their cars behind and walked for hours through dust and sand to see their former bishop.
The Pope said: "What a joy it is to return to Chiclayo! Thank you for your love, support and prayers – especially for my health during this time of trial, which I am overcoming with God's help."
Estimates of the size of the welcome vary. The submitted report says that around one million people lined the city's streets. The Associated Press reported that the Vatican estimated that more than 1.5 million people had come to welcome Leo XIV in northern Peru.
Leo XIV, born in the United States as Robert Francis Prevost, also holds Peruvian citizenship. In Chiclayo, Leo XIV visited the St. Oscar Romero Chapel, whose restoration he helped fund as bishop. He also met with old friends, including Hector Camacho. His daughter, Mildred, is the Pope's goddaughter.
At a local Catholic university, the Pope spoke about the limits of human existence. He warned that scientific progress must not become a privilege reserved for the wealthy, who seek ways to overcome disease, aging and death.
"Scientific progress must not be confused with a privilege for millionaires seeking immortality while entire peoples suffer from poverty and oppression," Leo XIV stressed.
The visit to Chiclayo is part of the Pope's tour of South America. His next stops in Peru are Cusco, located at an altitude of more than 3,400 meters, and Callao, where, as bishop, Prevost distributed food and aid to vulnerable communities.
Sources
This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.
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Pope Leo XIV celebrated an outdoor Mass in Chiclayo, Peru, where he served as bishop from 2015 to 2023, drawing hundreds of thousands of people to Pampas de Pimentel.
