Pope Leo Makes Historic Peru Return, Urges Justice for Abuse Victims
WHO:
ABC News - Pope Leo joked that “doubting Thomases” had predicted he would be unable to make the trip.
ABC News - Pope Leo XIV, born Robert Prevost in Chicago, is also a Peruvian citizen and spent two decades in Peru as a missionary priest and bishop.
NBC News - Leo said his return had “a very special meaning” because of the friendships he made during his 20 years in Peru and his affection for ceviche.
CBS News US - Leo said Peru taught him “what it means to be a shepherd” and denounced machismo, calling on followers to “value women” and “respect girls.”
ABC News - Leo addressed Peru’s Catholic bishops, urging them to accompany their communities and respond to clergy sexual abuse with truth and justice.
ABC News - Ángel Esquives, a craftsman from Leo’s former diocese in Chiclayo who now lives in Lima, said, “It’s a blessing not only for us Chiclayans but for all of Peru.”
ABC News - Cardinal Pedro Barreto, president of the Amazonian bishops conference, said Leo would listen to Indigenous people’s anguish and hopes.
ABC News - The Rev. Peter Hughes, an Irish priest who has lived in Peru for more than 60 years, said Christian justice prioritizes “the poor, the marginalized, and those who have no voice.”
NBC News - Camila Cerazo, 27, attended Leo’s arrival with her toddler, husband, and relatives.
WHAT:
AP - Cardinal Pedro Barreto said Pope Leo would reaffirm the Church’s commitment to defending Indigenous peoples’ dignity and cultures and caring for the Amazon.
ABC News - Pope Leo said being a bishop means “entering people’s homes, accompanying the sick, meeting young people” and reaching communities that are geographically remote or socially vulnerable.
ABC News - Leo climbed a steep flight of stairs without apparent difficulty during his morning events in Lima.
ABC News - Leo said St. Turibius de Mogrovejo studied Quechua and Aymara and oversaw the printing of the Catholic catechism in those Indigenous languages.
ABC News - Leo called on bishops to accompany people facing poverty and injustice, be models of unity, and reach people whose voices are seldom heard.
ABC News - Addressing clergy sexual abuse, Leo called for “truth, justice, forgiveness, making amends” and a stronger culture of prevention and protection for the most vulnerable.
ABC News - BishopAccountability’s online database identified 77 priests, brothers, seminarians, and lay consecrated people in Peru publicly accused of sexually abusing minors. The organization said this was likely a “small fraction” of the total.
ABC News - Leo was expected to meet abuse survivors during his Peru visit; a victims’ group planned a protest.
NBC News - A 46-foot statue of Leo with outstretched arms stood in a seaside park in Callao; merchants sold pope-themed merchandise, and women inmates made velvet dolls bearing his likeness.
ABC News - A children’s choir performed a song composed for the visit: “Papa León, hermano del camino, Papa León, sembrador de fraternidad.”
WHERE:
AP - Barreto cited a recent case in Condorcanqui province, in northern Peru’s jungle, involving teachers who sexually abused Indigenous Awajún and Wampis girls.
NBC News - Leo spoke at Lima’s Gran Teatro Nacional and called Peru his “homeland.”
ABC News - Leo’s itinerary was described as taking him from Chiclayo to the Andes and rainforest.
ABC News - Leo addressed bishops and appeared before crowds in Lima, including at Plaza Mayor.
NBC News - Crowds lined Lima’s streets and filled its main plaza to welcome Leo.
NBC News - Leo’s visit included three days in Chiclayo, where he was bishop from 2015 to 2023.
ABC News - Barreto highlighted abuse of Indigenous Awajún and Wampis girls by teachers in Condorcanqui province, in northern Peru.
WHEN:
ABC News - Leo’s first day in Peru included his address to the country’s bishops and events in Lima.
NBC News - Leo arrived in Peru on Wednesday; the article describes his visit as six days.
ABC News - Leo said he had undergone lung cancer surgery the previous month.
WHY:
AP - The Rev. Peter Hughes said Leo’s familiarity with Peru’s poverty and political polarization helps explain why he speaks about justice and peace in human terms.
NBC News - Leo said he was making the Peru visit after touring Uruguay and Argentina on what NBC described as the most intense overseas trip by a pope in decades.
NBC News - Leo described Peru as his “homeland,” saying, “Today I understand how much of this land remains with me and how much of my own story also belongs to you.”
ABC News - Leo said the faith should be conveyed in languages people understand, explaining why St. Turibius supported religious texts in Quechua and Aymara.
NBC News - Peruvians identified more strongly with Leo after learning he had Peruvian nationality, Cerazo said.
ABC News - Leo said Peru had taught him how to be a shepherd and called bishops to serve people facing poverty, social vulnerability, and isolation.
HOW:
ABC News - Leo traveled around Plaza Mayor in his popemobile; the Vatican, citing local authorities, estimated that about 3 million people lined his motorcade route.
ABC News - Leo urged bishops to follow the example of St. Turibius de Mogrovejo, who traveled to serve his flock and defended Indigenous and enslaved people.
(UPDATED November 13, 2026 21:00 UTC)
Pope Leo returned to Peru, calling the country his homeland and honoring its people. He urged bishops to serve the poor, defend Indigenous communities, and protect women. Leo also demanded truth and justice in addressing clergy abuse and safeguarding children.
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(UPDATED November 13, 2026 16:01 UTC)
Pope Leo returned to Peru, calling it his homeland after two decades serving there. He urged bishops to serve the poor, marginalized communities, and people with little voice. Leo also demanded truth and justice in addressing clergy sexual abuse and protecting vulnerable people.
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(UPDATED November 13, 2026 04:59 UTC)
Pope Leo called Peru his homeland as crowds packed Lima’s streets and main plaza to welcome him. He urged bishops to serve the poor, defend unheard communities, and pursue truth and justice for abuse survivors. Drawing on two decades in Peru, Leo called for unity and respect for women.
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(UPDATED November 13, 2026 02:01 UTC)
Pope Leo XIV returned to Peru, where he spent two decades as a missionary and bishop. He urged bishops to serve the poor and marginalized, and confront clergy abuse with truth and justice. About three million people lined his motorcade route as crowds welcomed him in Lima.