Pope Leo XIV visits remote Andes town in Peru

Visit to Santa Cruz de Succhabamba

Pope Leo XIV travelled by helicopter to Santa Cruz de Succhabamba, a remote Andean town in northern Peru with about 6,000 inhabitants, where he served as bishop of Chiclayo from 2015 to 2023. About 20,000 people attended an outdoor Mass, according to the Vatican.

The pope, originally from Chicago and a Peruvian citizen since 2015, said he felt "joy" at being able to visit the small town again. "It is like a very big dream that the Lord has allowed this servant to come here," he said.

Message on suffering and migration

At the outdoor Mass, Pope Leo spoke of "declining birth rates that are emptying villages," and the unequal distribution of the land's resources. He also spoke of the "suffering of those who are forced to leave their homeland in search of a better future," which he said had left communities under threat.

Rev. Kevin Noriega, ordained in 2018 by the then-bishop, told Reuters the visit had brought "enormous hope and emotion" to Santa Cruz. He said people were eager to see their bishop, known as "Father Robert," now as the Holy Father.

Violence and poverty

Pope Leo XIV called for an end to violence gripping Peru, urging people not to respond to injustice with brutality. "Selfishness, injustice and evil are not overcome by brutality, but by prayer, patience and perseverance in denouncing what is wrong, by making our pleas with determination and working diligently to bring about the necessary changes," said the leader of the Roman Catholic church.

Over 40% of the population in the Cajamarca region, where the town is located, live in poverty, according to official data. Cajamarca has lost the highest number of people to internal migration, with 729,000 people born there now living elsewhere in Peru.

Why it matters

• Pope Leo XIV, the first Peruvian citizen to become pope, is on a 12-day South America tour that has included Argentina and Uruguay.
• His time in Peru carries personal significance, as he lived in the country for long periods between 1985 and 2023.
• The pontiff is set to leave Chiclayo on Sunday, heading to Cusco and then to a Peruvian sector of the Amazon rainforest, before returning to Rome on Monday.

Sources

• bbc.com: Pope Leo XIV speaks on community 'suffering' on visit to remote Andes
• aljazeera.com: Pope Leo urges end to violence in Peru during visit to remote Andes town | Crime News | Al Jazeera
• sg.news.yahoo.com: Pope Leo visits remote Andes town on special stop of Peru tour - Yahoo News Singapore

This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.