Huge crowds welcome Pope Leo on his return to his adopted homeland of Peru

LIMA — He was born in Chicago. But when Pope Leo XIV landed in Peru on Wednesday for the final leg of his South American tour, the cleric formerly known as Robert Francis Prevost returned home.

Upon landing at an air base on the outskirts of the capital, the pope appeared emotional as he was greeted by an ecstatic crowd. For a pope naturalized as a Peruvian citizen in 2015, a remarkable multitude of some 3 million people, according to the Vatican, citing Peruvian authorities — a record for his papacy — lined the route of his welcome convoy for miles inside the city, some in tears, others raising their hands in prayer, most pointing at their cell phones. They roared as their adopted son returned.

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