Pope Leo begins his six-day visit to Peru at Callao Air Base, where he is greeted by the Peruvian people, who welcome him with open arms.
By Francesca Merlo – Lima, Peru
Pope Leo XIV arrived in Peru on Wednesday, November 11, opening the third and final leg of his apostolic journey to South America after visits to Uruguay and Argentina.
The papal plane landed at Callao Air Base, where President Keiko Fujimori and Foreign Minister Carlos Espá welcomed the pope. Two children gave him a bouquet of flowers and he thanked them with a hug.
A choir, Sinfonía por el Perú, made up of 27 children, sang as different groups waited to greet the Pope. He took the time to stop and bless those with disabilities and several babies. The children gave him small gifts before he greeted the Vatican delegation.
Children greet Pope Leo upon his arrival in Peru (VATICAN MEDIA)
From Callao to Lima
The Pope will then head to Avenida Brasil where he will swap cars and board his popemobile so he can greet the faithful lining the streets, while he heads to the Presidential Palace for the official welcoming ceremony and his meeting with President Keiko Fujimori. Pope Leo’s first evening in Peru will end at the Grand National Theater, where he will deliver his first visiting speech to the country’s authorities, representatives of civil society and members of the diplomatic corps.
From Lima to Chiclayo, the Andes and the Amazon
Pope Leo’s first visit to Peru since his election brings him back to a country where he served for many years as an Augustinian missionary and then as bishop of Chiclayo, from 2015 to 2023. He will return to this northern city on Friday to celebrate mass in the Pampa de Pimentel.
On Thursday, he will meet Peru’s bishops and preside over midday prayers in Lima Cathedral. He will then participate in a meeting on the challenges and hopes of the Peruvian people in Cathedral Square. The visit will also take him to Cusco, where he will recite the Angelus at Saqsaywaman, and to Pucallpa, where he will meet missionaries and representatives of the Amazonian peoples. He will return to Lima for mass at the Las Palmas air base on Monday, November 16, before leaving for Rome.
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