Pope Leo XIV visits Cusco and Pucallpa during Peru tour

Pope Leo XIV visits Cusco and Pucallpa

Pope Leo XIV visited Cusco and Pucallpa on Sunday, the penultimate day of his 12-day Latin America tour, according to Al Jazeera. The tour has already included Uruguay and Argentina.

In Cusco, the former capital of the Inca Empire, Leo delivered a speech at the Indigenous fortress of Saqsaywaman. He praised the region’s traditional festivities and processions, which often blend Indigenous and Catholic spirituality.

“The future of these traditions lies not only in preserving what has been handed down, but also in passing it on in a living way,” he said.

Huge crowds packed Cusco’s central Plaza de Armas to greet Leo. Leo is the first Peruvian citizen to become pope. He acquired Peruvian citizenship in 2015 after living in the country for years and later becoming the bishop of Chiclayo.

Pope condemns Amazon exploitation and killings

In the afternoon, Leo flew to Pucallpa, a city near Peru’s eastern border on the banks of the Ucayali River. Pucallpa is considered a gateway to the Peruvian Amazon.

Leo denounced the violence faced by Indigenous land defenders who confront deforestation, pollution and the threat of Indigenous expulsion.

“Many Indigenous leaders have been murdered for defending their territories,” Leo said. “The blood of these brothers cries out to God and demands justice.”

He urged Catholics to oppose “with perseverance” the deforestation and pollution caused by gold and oil production in the world’s largest rainforest. He warned that “patterns of exploitation and economic activity … threaten the balance of creation.”

Health and travel details

Leo is 71 years old and is recovering from lung cancer surgery. Al Jazeera reported that the visit to Cusco, a high-altitude city some 3,400 metres (more than 11,000 feet) above sea level, tested the pope’s stamina. The Straits Times reported that Leo underwent surgery for lung adenocarcinoma on October 13 and that his doctors said the cancer was localized and had not spread.

Leo is expected to return to Rome on Monday.

Sources

• aljazeera.com: Photos: Pope Leo visits Peru’s Amazon and Andean regions during 12-day tour | Religion News | Al Jazeera
• straitstimes.com: Pope Leo urges stop to Amazon deforestation, decries 'murders' of tribal leaders | The Straits Times
• internazionale.it: Pope Leo urges stop to Amazon deforestation, decries ‘murders’ of tribal leaders - Internazionale

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