Pope Leo XIV has spoken about the 'suffering' of communities forced to leave their homes during a visit to the remote Andean town of Santa Cruz de Succhabamba in northern Peru.
Santa Cruz de Succhabamba is part of the Diocese of Chiclayo, where Pope Leo served as bishop from 2015 to 2023. During his tenure, he visited the rural community multiple times annually for pastoral outreach.
Local Context
About 6,000 people live in Santa Cruz de Succhabamba, located in an isolated region of the Andes mountains. The village lies within the Cajamarca region — one of Peru’s poorest areas — with over 40% of its population living below the poverty line according to official data.
Cajamarca has experienced significant internal migration: approximately 729,000 individuals born there now reside elsewhere in Peru. This trend reflects broader patterns of rural depopulation and economic marginalization across the country's highland regions.
Pope Leo’s Remarks
At a public outdoor Mass on Saturday, Pope Leo described declining birth rates as contributing to 'emptying villages' and highlighted unequal distribution of land resources among communities.
He said he felt 'joy' at returning to Santa Cruz after years away, calling it 'a very big dream that the Lord has allowed this servant to come here.' The statement was made during his address at a local parish.
The visit drew an estimated crowd of 20,000 people — significantly larger than the town's population. According to Vatican sources, the pope arrived by helicopter and later conducted a tour in a popemobile, waving to residents who had traveled from across the region.
Local Reaction
Rev. Kevin Noriega, ordained in 2018 under then-Bishop Leo, told Reuters that the event brought 'enormous hope and emotion' to Santa Cruz. He noted that villagers were eager for their former bishop — known locally as 'Father Robert' — now serving as Holy Father, to preside over Mass again after years of absence.
Papal Tour Significance
This visit marks Peru’s first stop on Pope Leo XIV's extended tour through Latin America, which began weeks after his lung cancer surgery. The 12-day itinerary includes stops in Argentina and Uruguay before concluding with a visit to a Peruvian Amazon region.
The pope, born in the United States but who became a citizen of Peru in 2015, has maintained strong personal ties to local communities throughout his leadership. His time in Chiclayo was marked by frequent pastoral visits to rural areas like Santa Cruz de Succhabamba.
Following this event, Pope Leo will depart Chiclayo on Sunday for Cusco, then proceed toward an Amazonian sector of Peru. He is scheduled to return to Rome at the end of the tour.