Leo XIV may have been the protagonist of the last few days, but he has deservedly shared the spotlight with the enormous affection that the Peruvian people showed him.
Leo XIV may have been the protagonist of the last few days, but he has deservedly shared the spotlight with the enormous affection that the Peruvian people showed him.
Millions of people came to see or hear Robert Prevost, the bishop of Chiclayo who made this his land, not by birth but out of love for his people and his own decision. His visit this week, now as head of the Catholic Church from the Vatican, has moved both his faithful and thousands of citizens who are not necessarily Catholic, but who are able to see in his presence a point of national unity, fraternity, peace and reflection.
Peru needed this. Political battles, after a year full of national and subnational elections, divide and exhaust. Inflation weighs on the family basket. The uncertainty about the global context is great. And the El Niño phenomenon threatens to be especially devastating. In that context, Leo XIV’s visit has been an exciting reminder that life goes far beyond news headlines. We have witnessed entire families, from children to grandparents, forming lines for several hours while they were filled with anticipation to hear the Peruvian Pope, or see him pass by waving. The collective sensation spreads throughout Peru, with Leo XIV visiting cities on the coast, mountains and Peruvian jungle.
Prevost, moreover, is not just a representative figure of a larger institution. He himself, as a person, has shown tremendous generosity, empathy and affection for the people who welcomed him for several decades. People immediately pick up on these gestures, no matter how small, and warmly reward them with the devotion of those who seek leaders to believe in, trust, and imitate, whether religious or not.
The Pope’s visit lasts a week. However, its impact on the country should last much longer. Leo XIV brought a message of union, justice, peace and, above all, love. He reminded us that Peru and its people are extraordinary. That there are noble causes that excite us, unite us and make us all equal. That we can share a vision. That is what must prevail when he leaves. And perhaps all this reminded him of why, some time ago, he made the decision to also forever be part of this town full of dreams, generosity and gratitude.
