Pope Leo XIV Visits Peru's Amazon and Andes During Historic South American Tour

Pope Leo XIV has traversed Peru on the penultimate day of his Latin America tour, visiting both the Andean highlands and the Peruvian Amazon. This Sunday marked the final full day of a journey that previously included stops in Uruguay and Argentina.

The pontiff began his morning in the Andean city of Cusco, the former capital of the Inca Empire. While delivering a speech at the Indigenous fortress of Saqsaywaman, Leo praised the region's traditional festivities and processions that blend Catholic and Indigenous spirituality, emphasizing that these traditions must be passed on in a living way.

Massive crowds gathered at Cusco's central Plaza de Armas to welcome the Pope. Born in the United States, Leo became the first Peruvian citizen to serve as pope after acquiring citizenship in 2015, following years of residency and his tenure as the bishop of Chiclayo.

The visit to Cusco, situated 3,400 metres above sea level, served as a test of the 71-year-old pope's stamina as he recovers from lung cancer surgery. Despite this, Leo has shown no signs of fatigue since his 12-day, three-nation trip began on November 6.

In the afternoon, the Pope flew to Pucallpa, a city on the banks of the Ucayali River and a gateway to the Peruvian Amazon. There, Leo reinforced the environmental teachings of his predecessor, Pope Francis, and denounced the violence against Indigenous land defenders fighting deforestation, pollution, and expulsion.

"Many Indigenous leaders have been murdered for defending their territories," Leo stated, calling for justice. He highlighted the ongoing threats from illegal mining and deforestation, noting that mining-related pollution has caused a water crisis and increased the risk of heavy metal poisoning in Peru.

Pope Leo XIV is expected to return to Rome on Monday.