"Welcome Home": Peru awaits Pope Leo's emotional "homecoming"

Pope Leo will conclude his South American tour in Argentina with a final mass on Wednesday, expected to attract millions of pilgrims, before returning to Peru for an emotional homecoming in November. The 12-day journey through November 17 will see the pontiff celebrating outdoor masses, visiting a major penitentiary, and addressing pressing social issues.

Upon his return to Peru, Leo will lead a personal leg of the most intense overseas trip by a pope in recent decades, visiting his hometown of Chiclayo, where he served as a bishop for 20 years. The visit is anticipated to elicit emotional responses as the pontiff reconnects with old friends and addresses the country’s political landscape.

Peru's president, Keiko Fujimori, whose father was a controversial former president, will receive a closely watched address from the pope. The Peruvian government has prepared extensively for the visit, with a prominent statue of Leo erected in Callao and widespread patriotic displays in Lima. The pope's return to Peru, where he served as a missionary for most of his early career, is seen as an opportunity to engage in discussions about the nation's political past and present, given his unique understanding of the country's dynamics.