Day Four in Peru: Pope crowns Virgin in Chiclayo, calls for justice in Santa Cruz

Pope Leo XIV spent his fourth day in Peru in his former diocese, where he crowned an image of the Immaculate Virgin in Chiclayo, celebrated Mass in Santa Cruz de Succhabamba, and joined the faithful for prayer in Zaña.

The fourth day of Pope Leo XIV's Apostolic Journey to Peru began at St. Mary’s Cathedral, where he had begun his ministry as Bishop of Chiclayo in 2015.

As he crowned the image of the diocese’s patroness, he recalled learning to be a shepherd among the people of Chiclayo and prayed, “To your Immaculate Heart I entrust today my life and my ministry as Successor of Peter.”

Pope Leo then flew to Santa Cruz de Succhabamba, where he prayed before the locally venerated image of the Señor del Costado at the Parish of the Immaculate Conception.

He assured those who are ill of the Church’s closeness and asked them to pray for him and for everyone in need of God’s help.

At Mass, he acknowledged the long journeys made by thousands of Catholics from rural Andean communities and thanked the catechists and laypeople who serve where priests are scarce.

Drawing on the Gospel parable of the persistent widow, he urged the Church and society to heed those whose cries for justice still go unanswered.

He called for prayer and patient action against injustice and commended those working to provide dignified employment.

The Pope concluded the day at the Shrine of Saint Turibius of Mogrovejo in Zaña, where he heard testimonies during a prayer gathering marking 300 years since the saint’s canonization.

He thanked the people for what they had taught him as their bishop and urged families to keep sharing the faith: “Dear parents and grandparents, continue to pass on the faith to your children and grandchildren.”

Vatican News
Source: vaticannews.va/en