The Peruvian city that has embraced Pope Leo as one of its own

Pope Leo XIV has celebrated mass near the Peruvian city where he made his name as a compassionate bishop who worked closely with poor and migrant communities.

The ceremony was held on Friday at a park in Pimentel, about 10km (six miles) from Chiclayo in northern Peru as part of his tour of Latin America.

The Vatican estimates more than 1.5 million people gathered to welcome the pontiff.

"Thank you for your affection, support and prayers," the Pope told followers.

"Especially for my health during this time of trial which, with God's help, I am overcoming," he added, referencing the surgery he had for lung cancer which took place just weeks ago.

Some of the crowd arrived 12 hours in advance to wait in vigil before the mass began.

"We spent the night praying, alongside family, excited to welcome the Pope from Chiclayo," said Isa Orderique.

Many came from across Peru and even neighbouring countries to attend.

Merli Cruz Guerrero, from an area near the Ecuadorean border, travelled several hours by bus to attend. She also spent the entire night waiting.

Of all the events the Pope has attended so far during his visit to Peru, this felt particularly emotional.

The crowd fell into a hushed silence as the pontiff's motorcade approached.

They waited eagerly for his arrival despite spending long hours out in the open with the temperature pushing past 30C.

For many living here, the fact that the Pope worked extensively in this region before becoming the head of the Catholic Church has put them in the spotlight.

"The Pope has come home and Chiclayo is celebrating," said Lisbeth Díaz, a teacher who worked with Pope Leo when he served as the city's bishop between 2015 and 2023.

Peru is the longest stop on the first tour of Latin America by the pontiff, who was elected in May 2025.

The trip has also taken in Argentina and Uruguay, but his time in this country carries particular significance.

The Pope not only lived in Peru for long periods between 1985 and 2023 but also became a citizen of the country in 2015, forging close ties with local communities.

Around Chiclayo, it is hard to meet anyone who doesn't claim to be a friend of the Pope or have a special anecdote about him.

Some recall how he would enjoy sampling Peruvian delicacies at El Trébol, a restaurant next to the city's cathedral. Others remember his love of tennis.

But for many it's the more serious moments of his time here, such as helping launch soup kitchens during the Covid-19 pandemic, or wading through deep waters on horseback when floods hit the area.

Several of these images are on display in a small museum dedicated to him at the entrance to the bishop's residence.

But for the city, and for a country that calls him the "Peruvian Pope", his return home means much more than a collection of photographs and anecdotes.

"It is the return of the man who brought Peruvians closer to the Church," said Samuel David Miranda Atoche, a local parish priest from Chiclayo who was ordained by the Pope back when he was still the bishop and known under his birth name of Robert Prevost.

And it is not just local people he connected with, according to Díaz, who came to Chiclayo from Venezuela.

"It was difficult for him to see so many migrants living on the streets," she added, recalling the time when large numbers of Venezuelans came through Chiclayo escaping the political and economic crisis in their home country.

"So, he got in touch with the migration authorities and coordinated with other organisations to speed up the paperwork needed for many of us to obtain legal residency and work permits."

Robert Prevost's time here as bishop also involved difficult decisions, such as having to deal with the controversy and scandal surrounding the dissolution of Sodalitium of Christian Life, a Peruvian Catholic organisation that had faced decades of sexual abuse allegations.

Santiago Roncagliolo, a Peruvian writer and journalist who has studied the Pope's life, believes his handling of that crisis earned him the favour of his predecessor, Pope Francis, and helped set him on the path to the papacy.

Father David also stressed the role the now-pontiff played in bringing people together.

"If there is one thing Bishop Prevost worked for here," he added, referring to the Pope by his previous title, "it was unity".

That unity has been on display in the run up to the mass, with the square in front of Chiclayo Cathedral filled with joyous celebrations for days.

Normally, 800,000 people live in the city and its surrounding area, but estimates say the Pope's visit has caused that to double.

Local businesses have been capitalising on the Pope's popularity to boost sales and hotels have sharply increased their nightly room rates.

But that didn't seem to put off the faithful who gathered for the mass.

Shouts of: "The Pope is from Chiclayo!" echoed across the field during the event.

Their affection was clearly reflected by the pontiff.

"As I look at your faces, a prayer of thanksgiving to the Lord arises in my heart," he said from the stage, "for the blessing you have been and continue to be in my life."