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Pope Leo XIV Returns to Chiclayo, Peru
Confirmed
In Short: Father Hugo Gabriel Sánchez, a priest from Chiclayo, emphasized the significance of Pope Leo XIV's return, noting that the pontiff's roots are deeply embedded in the city.
Sánchez described the visit as a 'gift from God,' highlighting the pope's enduring affection for Chiclayo and his commitment to the community.
The pope's visit, scheduled for November 11-16, will include a closing ceremony for the jubilee year marking the 300th anniversary of the canonization of Saint Peter.
Pope Leo XIV will preside over a gathering in Zaña, a district of Chiclayo, where he will honor the local community as guests of honor.
Sánchez expressed confidence that the visit will be a source of encouragement for the pope, especially after his recent health recovery.
The pope's enthusiasm for major initiatives, such as evangelization and social assistance, was noted by Sánchez, who highlighted the pontiff's firmness and clarity in leadership.
Rev. Bernardino Gil, a local priest, prepared five sixth graders for their role in welcoming the pope, emphasizing the honor and pressure of the occasion.
The pope's return to Chiclayo is highly anticipated, as he spent decades there as a missionary and church leader, serving as bishop from 2015 to 2023.
Pope Leo XIV's visit will also mark the progress of the Eucharistic Shrine of Peru, a project he initiated in 2021.
The seaside town of Pimentel, where the pope will hold a Mass, was chosen for its capacity to host up to 915,000 people.
Sánchez noted that the pope's heart grows larger when he stands before a large crowd, suggesting his joy and enthusiasm will be palpable during the visit.
What this adds
The pope's visit to Chiclayo brings together his Augustinian spirituality and his service to the community.
The pope's return to Peru and Chiclayo is expected to be one of the key moments of his trip, which includes stops in Uruguay and Argentina as well.
Background
Pope Leo XIV, formerly Bishop Robert Prevost, returns to Chiclayo, Peru, where he once served as bishop.
What's confirmed
- Recalling the pope’s missionary journey, the priest highlighted the enthusiasm with which “Bishop Roberto” approached major projects and pastoral challenges.
- People walk past a mural dedicated to Pope Leo XIV in Chiclayo, Peru, Sept.
- A mototaxi pass drives past a banner of Pope Leo XIV at Pimentel beach in Chiclayo, Peru, Thursday, Nov.
- Sánchez said he has no doubt that Leo XIV is preparing for this trip “with much prayer,” just as the Church in Peru is doing.
- In just a few days, that friend, who wishes Sánchez a happy birthday every year and with whom he shared “hearty laughter” when he was Sánchez’s bishop, will return to Peru as pontiff.
- Father Hugo Gabriel Sánchez, a priest of Chiclayo, Peru, with Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican.
What's still developing
- He first arrived in Peru in 1985 as an Augustinian priest, later leading the Diocese of Chiclayo through devastating natural disasters and securing life-saving oxygen during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- His homecoming in Peru and to the city of Chiclayo in particular, has been highly anticipated since he name-dropped his former diocese from the balcony of St.
- The occasion brings together two significant aspects of Pope Leo’s life: his Augustinian spirituality and his service to the community of Chiclayo.
- As bishop of Chiclayo in Peru, Pope Leo XIV sought to build a basilica at the site of a Eucharistic miracle, currently a chapel.
- 6-17 trip will include stops in Montevideo, Paysandú and Florida in Uruguay; Buenos Aires, Córdoba and Luján in Argentina; and Lima, Chiclayo, Cusco and Pucallpa in Peru.
- His return to Chiclayo, the diocese he led before his election, is expected to be one of the key moments of the trip.
- Robert Francis Prevost was born in Chicago, became a naturalized Peruvian citizen in 2015, and led the Diocese of Chiclayo, in northern Peru, from 2015 to 2023 before his election as Pope Leo XIV in May 2025.
- From Chulucanas to Chiclayo, by way of Trujillo, here's a look at the main stages of his life in Peru.
- RELATED: Pope Leo XIV calls for universal access to health care in Uruguay The seaside town of Pimentel, where local landowners volunteered their property to host the pope, was not the diocese’s first choice for the Mass.