Pope Leo XIV is expected to return to the Peruvian city of Chiclayo on Friday, in what is anticipated to be one of the emotional highlights of his South American tour.
The visit will take the pontiff back to the city where he served as bishop for nearly a decade, with residents, former colleagues and longtime friends eagerly awaiting his arrival.
The US-born pontiff, who holds Peruvian citizenship, is expected to reconnect with communities and neighbourhoods that shaped his life and ministry before he was elected leader of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics.
Pope Leo, whose birth name is Robert Francis Prevost, previously expressed his affection for the region during his first address as pontiff from the balcony of St Peter’s Basilica, paying tribute in Spanish to his “beloved Diocese of Chiclayo”.
His return to Peru forms part of a South American tour that has also taken him to Uruguay and Argentina.
The 71-year-old pope’s visit has attracted particular attention as it comes weeks after he reportedly underwent surgery to remove a cancerous tumour from his lung.
His homecoming to Chiclayo is expected to provide an opportunity for emotional reunions with people who knew him during his years of pastoral service in Peru.
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