Pope says Inca heartland ‘suffering’ as villages empty

Pope Leo XIV expressed concern over the suffering in the heartland of the ancient Inca Empire as remote, impoverished communities in his former missionary area in Peru diminish rapidly. Despite recent cancer surgery, the 71-year-old pontiff journeyed by helicopter to Santa Cruz de Succhabamba, an Andean town his predecessor had visited on horseback.

Thousands of devoted followers cheered his arrival, donning colorful banners of the pope. During an open-air Mass, Pope Leo praised the region's profound Christian faith, but lamented the suffering of those compelled to leave their homes for better opportunities in coastal cities like Lima and Trujillo. Over 40% of the Cajamarca region's population, where Santa Cruz de Succhabamba resides, lives in poverty, the highest rate in the country.

The area experienced the most internal migration in Peru, with 729,000 individuals born there now residing elsewhere. The pope also noted declining birth rates, emptying villages, and uneven resource distribution. However, he complimented those who, through entrepreneurship and ingenuity, offer dignified employment. Pope Leo traversed the region in a popemobile, waving to pilgrims who arrived early, many camping out overnight or walking from surrounding villages.

Idaura Fernandez, 42, expressed delight at his return, while Irma Villalobos, 61, hoped his presence would transform the province. Vicar General Jorge Villegas stated the pope initially intended to visit an even more isolated location, Incahuasi, but logistical challenges prevented it. Following his visit to Santa Cruz de Succhabamba, Pope Leo will travel to Cuzco and Pucallpa, meeting with Indigenous groups.

Earlier, the US-born pontiff returned to his former cathedral in Chiclayo, where he served as bishop from 2015 to 2023, and received warm greetings from the crowd. The tour concludes on Monday with a visit to a shelter for elderly people.