Pope Leo XIV is spending the closing days of a South America tour in Peru, the country where he served as a missionary and bishop and which he has called his homeland, BBC, CBS News and Al Jazeera reported^1,2,3.

Born Robert Prevost in Chicago, he lived in Peru for long stretches between 1985 and 2023, became a Peruvian citizen in 2015 and was bishop of Chiclayo from 2015 until he was called to Rome in 2023^1,4.

On arrival in Lima, the Vatican estimated some 3 million people along his motorcade, CBS News and Al Jazeera reported^2,3. He told officials he understood how much of the land remained with him and that he was returning to his homeland^2,3.

He met President Keiko Fujimori^2,3. Al Jazeera reported he urged that past events be treated with justice and sensitivity; Fujimori called the visit an invitation to national reconciliation³.

On Friday he celebrated Mass at Pimentel, near Chiclayo^1,4. The BBC said the Vatican estimated more than 1.5 million people there; The Rio Times had said no official turnout was published before the Mass^1,4. He thanked the crowd for prayers during recent lung-cancer treatment¹.

The itinerary still included northern Peru, Cusco and the Amazon city of Pucallpa before a planned Lima close, The Rio Times and CBS News reported^2,4. Independent confirmation of final crowd counts at each stop was not complete in the coverage^1,4.

Latin America Reports, covering the Argentina stop that preceded Peru, said official estimates put more than 3 million people at a Luján Mass and that Leo departed for Peru after urging national reconciliation⁵.