Pope Leo draws 3 million in Peru on emotional homecoming stop
Why it matters: The visit blends a major Catholic pilgrimage with scrutiny of Peru's political wounds and a tourism surge expected to bring 900,000 visitors.
Pope Leo arrived in Peru to the biggest crowds of his papacy, with local officials estimating about 3 million people turned out to welcome him on the final leg of his 12-day South America tour. Leo, born in Chicago and later a Peruvian citizen, called Peru his homeland after spending about two decades there as a missionary and later serving as bishop of Chiclayo from 2015 to 2023. In Lima, he urged President Keiko Fujimori to help rebuild public trust after a narrow election and to treat the country's past with justice and sensitivity. The six-day visit is expected to draw about 850,000 domestic travelers and 50,000 international visitors, with more than 2 million people forecast for Masses in Lima and Chiclayo.