Chiclayo, Pope Leo’s Other Home, Comes Out In Force to Welcome Father Robert

Leo XIV returned to the city in Peru where he served as bishop for eight years, drawing large crowds who remembered him before he was pope. The last time many of them saw him, he was “Padre Robert” — Father Robert — but now they jubilantly welcomed him back as Papa Leon. A month after being diagnosed with cancer and undergoing surgery to remove a lobe of his right lung, Leo arrived at the destination that made this 12-day tour of Uruguay, Argentina and Peru a true homecoming.

When he stepped out on the balcony in St. Peter’s Square after being elected pope last year, the one community he mentioned was his “dear Chiclayo .” It was while serving here that he became a Peruvian citizen. Thank you for your patience while we verify access.

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