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Pope Leo XIV Celebrates Mass in Chiclayo, Peru, His Former Diocese

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.

By Hermes Vector

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Illustration for: Pope Leo XIV Celebrates Mass in Chiclayo, Peru, His Former Diocese

In brief

  • Pope Leo XIV celebrated Mass in Chiclayo, Peru, his former diocese, on November 13, 2026.
  • The Vatican estimates roughly 1.5 million people attended the outdoor Mass at Pampas de Pimentel.
  • About 140 priests dined with the pope on Friday night, and he took a photo with each of them.
  • The pope underwent lung cancer surgery one month before the Mass.

Pope Leo XIV Celebrates Mass in Chiclayo, Peru, His Former Diocese

Pope Leo XIV celebrated an outdoor Mass on Friday, November 13, 2026, at Pampas de Pimentel, a desert park outside Chiclayo, Peru, where he served as bishop from 2015 to 2023.

The Mass and the Crowd

The Vatican estimates that roughly 1.5 million faithful attended the Mass, braving scorching sun and heat of 31 degrees Celsius (87 degrees Fahrenheit). OSV News reports that about 500,000 people descended upon the desert plain for the outdoor Mass, while one million people lined the streets of Chiclayo for miles as the pope was driven from the airport to the Mass site.

The Pope's Words

Leo began his homily by saying, "What a joy it is to return to Chiclayo! It is a blessing for me to be with you once again." He also said, "Thank you for your affection, support and prayers, especially for my health during this time of trial which, with God's help, I am overcoming." He underwent lung cancer surgery one month before the Mass.

Dinner with Priests

About 140 priests of his former diocese dined with the pope on Friday night at the Colegio Santo Toribio de Mogrovejo in Chiclayo. Father Jorge Millán told EWTN News that the pope "was very happy" to be with them and asked to take a photo with each priest one by one.

Why it matters

The visit marks Pope Leo XIV's return to the diocese he led for eight years, during a 12-day apostolic journey to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru. He is scheduled to remain in Chiclayo until Sunday, November 15, 2026.

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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