Pope Leo XIV returns to the country that charted its path to the papacy

Whether he is traveling on horseback to the most isolated regions of the Andes, distributing food in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic, or wading through water and mud wearing rubber boots during floods; This is how many Peruvians remember the man who is today Pope, Leo XIV. Robert Prevost was at the heart of the field, standing alongside the Peruvian people during the country's most difficult moments.

It is likely that these memories will be strongly present in the minds of people as they receive the Pope on his visit to his second homeland, on Wednesday. Pope Leo arrived in the city of Callao, near Lima, amid a rich welcome worthy of a hero. Those present at the airport waved flags and cheered warmly as he got off his plane and waved to them.

He was received by a number of senior officials, including President Keiko Fujimori and Foreign Minister Carlos Espa. Later, large crowds of supporters lined the streets to greet him as his motorcade headed towards the government palace in the capital.

According to the Vatican, the number of attendees reached about 3 million people. The Pope presided over a Mass in Argentina earlier this week, attended by nearly 2.5 million people.

In a speech he delivered in the presence of President Fujimori and the country's political leaders, Pope Leo said that his return to Peru holds "a very special meaning" for him. He said: "For this reason I can tell you, with deep gratitude, that I am also returning to my homeland." Referring to his time in the country, the Pope said that the people there made him “feel like one of them,” as they welcomed him into their homes and shared “ceviche,” a traditional Peruvian fish dish, with him.

He also praised the country for its role in “shaping his character as a spiritual shepherd.” The Pope's visit to Peru - which will include stops in the cities of Cuzco and Chiclayo - represents a homecoming for a pontiff who knows the country deeply and holds its nationality. He is due to receive a new Peruvian identity card listing Chiclayo as his address.

Prevost, while still a young man, arrived in the South American country in 1985 as a missionary. The years that followed helped shape his leadership style, which later led him to become the successor to the late Pope Francis.