In short
- The Vatican estimated that more than 1.5 million people attended the Mass celebrated by Pope Leo XIV at a park in Pimentel, about 10km from Chiclayo in northern Peru, on Friday.
- Pope Leo XIV, born Robert Prevost, was bishop of Chiclayo from 2015 to 2023 and became a Peruvian citizen in 2015.
- The pope told the crowd he was overcoming a “time of trial” after surgery for lung cancer weeks before he began his 12-day Latin America tour.
- About 800,000 people live in Chiclayo and its surrounding area, a figure estimates say the papal visit has doubled.
- Santiago Roncagliolo, a Peruvian writer who has studied the pope’s life, believes his handling of the Sodalitium of Christian Life crisis earned him the favour of Pope Francis.
Pope Leo XIV celebrated Mass on Friday at a park in Pimentel, about 10km (six miles) from Chiclayo in northern Peru, during his tour of Latin America. The Vatican estimated that more than 1.5 million people gathered near the city where he served as bishop from 2015 to 2023.
Why is Chiclayo significant for Pope Leo XIV?
Robert Prevost, as he was known before his election, lived in Peru for long periods between 1985 and 2023 and became a Peruvian citizen in 2015. He was bishop of Chiclayo from 2015 to 2023 and was elected pope in May 2025. Peru is the longest stop on his first Latin America tour, which has also included Uruguay and Argentina, where he made the first papal visit to the country since 1987.
What did Pope Leo XIV say at the Mass?
“Thank you for your affection, support and prayers,” the pope told the crowd, “especially for my health during this time of trial which, with God’s help, I am overcoming.” The remark referred to surgery for lung cancer weeks before he began his 12-day Latin America tour. From the stage he added: “As I look at your faces, a prayer of thanksgiving to the Lord arises in my heart, for the blessing you have been and continue to be in my life.”
How many people attended the Mass in Pimentel?
The Vatican estimated that more than 1.5 million people gathered for the ceremony. Some arrived 12 hours early to hold an overnight vigil in the open as temperatures rose above 30C. “We spent the night praying, alongside family, excited to welcome the Pope from Chiclayo,” said Isa Orderique. Merli Cruz Guerrero travelled several hours by bus from an area near the Ecuadorean border and also waited through the night. In Argentina, authorities estimated that 2.5 million people attended his Mass in Buenos Aires.
What do Chiclayo residents remember of his time as bishop?
Residents recall the future pope eating Peruvian dishes at El Trébol, a restaurant next to the city’s cathedral, and his love of tennis. Others remember him helping to launch soup kitchens during the Covid-19 pandemic and riding on horseback through floodwaters. Photographs of some of those moments are on display in a small museum at the entrance to the bishop’s residence. Lisbeth Díaz, a teacher who worked with him, said he contacted migration authorities and other organisations to speed up residency and work permits for Venezuelans arriving in Chiclayo. “It was difficult for him to see so many migrants living on the streets,” she said.
What was his role in the Sodalitium of Christian Life case?
His time as bishop included the dissolution of Sodalitium of Christian Life, a Peruvian Catholic organisation that had faced decades of sexual abuse allegations. Santiago Roncagliolo, a Peruvian writer and journalist who has studied the pope’s life, believes his handling of that crisis earned him the favour of his predecessor, Pope Francis, and helped set him on the path to the papacy. Samuel David Miranda Atoche, a Chiclayo parish priest ordained by the future pope, said: “It is the return of the man who brought Peruvians closer to the Church.”
What has the visit meant for Chiclayo?
About 800,000 people live in the city and its surrounding area, and estimates say the pope’s visit has doubled that figure. Local businesses have sought to lift sales, and hotels have sharply increased their nightly room rates. Shouts of “The Pope is from Chiclayo!” rang out across the field during the Mass, and the square in front of the cathedral had been filled with celebrations for days beforehand.
Frequently asked questions
Why is Pope Leo XIV called the Peruvian Pope?
He lived in Peru for long periods between 1985 and 2023, became a Peruvian citizen in 2015 and served as bishop of Chiclayo from 2015 to 2023 before being elected in May 2025.
How many people attended the Mass in Pimentel?
The Vatican estimated that more than 1.5 million people gathered at the park in Pimentel, about 10km from Chiclayo, for the Mass on Friday.
What did Pope Leo XIV say about his health?
He thanked the crowd for prayers for his health “during this time of trial which, with God’s help, I am overcoming”, referring to surgery for lung cancer weeks before the tour began.
Where did Pope Leo XIV serve as bishop in Peru?
He was bishop of Chiclayo, in northern Peru, from 2015 to 2023, and had lived in the country for extended periods since 1985.
With reporting from BBC News.
Stock image, not from the events described. City Skyline — Joe deSousa / Wikimedia Commons (CC0 1.0)
