Pope Leo visits remote Andes town on special stop of Peru tour

On Saturday, Pope Leo embarked on a special stop during his 12-day South America tour, traveling to a remote Andean town in Peru's western mountains. The town, Santa Cruz de Succhabamba, with a population of under 6,000, once knew the Pope as Bishop Robert Prevost. Arriving by helicopter, the Pope was greeted with a traditional welcome by a local band and crowds gathered in a field for a Mass.

Pope Leo expressed his joy at returning to the small town, where he had served as a missionary for over 20 years. He likened his visit to a "very big dream" allowed by the Lord. The Pope later celebrated Mass in a nearby field with an estimated crowd of 20,000 people, though smaller than other events on his tour. Many of the attendees were familiar with the Pope, who had visited the area regularly during his time as Bishop.

Among the crowd was Rev. Kevin Noriega, a local priest ordained by the future Pope in 2018. Noriega recalled how Pope Leo, known for his love of driving, would often travel to the community in a pick-up truck to minister to the rural population. People were eager to see the Pope, now known as the Holy Father, and celebrate the Mass together.

During his sermon, Pope Leo thanked the crowd for joining him in the town and encouraged them to remain hopeful despite life's challenges. He reminded them that the Lord knows their struggles and hardships, offering nourishment in times of weakness. Pope Leo plans to return to his hometown of Chiclayo on Saturday afternoon before visiting Cusco and Pucallpa on the following days of his penultimate day in Peru.