Pope Leo XIV arrived in Lima on Wednesday to begin a historic visit to Peru, where he met President Keiko Fujimori and was welcomed by huge crowds along a motorcade route.
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Pope Leo XIV declared Peru his “homeland” as he arrived in Lima on Wednesday, beginning what the Vatican described as the final leg of his three-nation South America tour and an emotional homecoming linked to more than two decades spent in Peru as a missionary priest and later bishop.
The Vatican estimated that about 3 million people lined the kilometers-long motorcade route into the capital, waving Peruvian and Holy See flags, as crowds cheered and some people pushed through security to follow the vehicle carrying the pope to the presidential palace.
At the palace, Leo met privately with Peruvian President Keiko Fujimori, then took part in a formal welcome ceremony in the courtyard that included singing the Peruvian national anthem with Fujimori and a children’s choir.
In his first remarks to Fujimori and government officials, the Chicago-born pope said Peruvian citizenship he acquired in 2015 cemented a bond that began long before, crediting Peruvians with shaping him as a pastor. “Today I understand how much of this land remains with me and how much of my own story also belongs to you,” he said, adding: “That is why I can tell you, with deep gratitude, that I am also returning to my homeland,” as the crowd applauded.
As a dual citizen of the United States and Peru, Leo is described as the first pope from each country, and officials and faithful framed the trip as a return to the place where he said he learned “what it means to be a shepherd.”
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