Pope Leo XIV returns to second homeland Peru to a nationwide welcome
Pope Leo XIV arrived in Peru on Wednesday for the final leg of his South American tour, returning to the country where he spent more than two decades as a missionary and bishop. Thousands gathered to welcome him home as “Padre Robert”, with many hoping his visit will bring attention to poverty, crime and political instability.
The conservative Fujimori came to power in July on promises of restoring order to a nation plagued by extortion and homicide, which have nearly doubled, reaching 10.7 per 100,000 inhabitants – up from 5.8 five years ago.
Alonso Cárdenas, a political science professor at the Antonio Ruiz de Montoya University, said Peruvians will welcome the pope at a time when many feel disappointed with authorities following a decade of political instability that has seen a revolving door of nine presidents since July 2016. Many Peruvians are also battered by rising insecurity and the increasing cost of food.
“There’s no sign of a reaction, no strategy,” from Fujimori’s government, he said.
As a result, many hope for a message from Leo that will prompt a response from those in power.
“There’s a profound sense of weariness regarding politics and corruption,” said Véronique Lecaros, head of the department of theology at the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru.
In contrast, she said the Catholic Church enjoys a level of credibility that surpasses any other Peruvian institution.
Huge crowds are expected to turn out to welcome Leo home, even though Peru has seen Catholicism fall in recent years. According to the Pew Research Center, the Catholic population was at 76% in 2013-2014, but now stands at around 67%.
That stands in line with trends around the world where many continue to join the growing ranks of the religiously unaffiliated. Known as the “nones,” they identify as atheists, agnostics, spiritual but not religious, or simply, nothing in particular. But Lecaros says this doesn’t mean Peruvians have lost their faith, and most still consider themselves to be religious.
“They’ll listen to the pope, and some inspired by his example, will renew their interest in the Church," she said. "In the end though, it will depend on how Catholic lay and clerical leaders choose to behave.”
