Pope Leo XIV returns to Chiclayo after serving as local bishop

Pope Leo XIV is returning to the northern Peruvian city of Chiclayo, where he previously served as the local bishop for nearly nine years.

The local community remembers Robert Francis Prevost as a humble leader who lived among the people. During his time as bishop, he frequently visited the poor and participated in community meals.

Residents recall him wearing rubber boots to walk through mud and floodwaters in 2017 to deliver aid to families who lost their homes to heavy rains. He also focused on creating a more approachable and brotherly church environment compared to the more formal leadership of the past. Prevost initiated several social projects in the region, particularly to support Venezuelan migrants who began arriving in large numbers in 2018.

He established a church commission to coordinate food distribution, clothing, and housing for those seeking refuge in Peru. He also worked to help these migrants obtain official recognition for their professional qualifications. One migrant, Betania Rodríguez, noted that the bishop personally distributed food and worked alongside volunteers to support the community. The Pope plans to visit a small chapel in the El Bosque neighborhood, a low-income area where he previously visited the congregation.

The chapel, named after the murdered Salvadoran archbishop Óscar Romero, was renovated with funds secured through the network of the former bishop. While the city prepares for a major religious and tourism event, local residents emphasize that they want the Pope to address the ongoing social problems in Peru rather than just visiting as a tourist.