Pope Leo XIV expressed his profound joy at returning to Peru, a country he identified as his homeland.
In this regard, the Supreme Pontiff said his apostolic journey holds special significance for him, as it allows him to meet with the Peruvian people and communities from different regions.
"If I were granted the opportunity to relive those years, I would do so with joy, embracing both their happy moments and their difficulties," Leo XIV stated.
"That is why I can tell you, with profound gratitude, that I am also returning to my homeland," he added during his remarks at the meeting with authorities, civil society, and the diplomatic corps at the Grand National Theater in Lima.
The Supreme Pontiff noted that, after obtaining Peruvian citizenship in 2015, he developed a very strong bond with this land.
"This return holds very special significance for me. My story with Peru began long before the Lord entrusted me with the Diocese of Chiclayo. For years, I shared in the lives of its people, listened to their concerns, and learned from their faith. Many people opened the doors of their homes to me, shared their meals and, of course, some good ceviche with me, and made me feel like one of their own," His Holiness stated.
"In 2015, I received Peruvian citizenship. That act expressed a bond that these people had been weaving into my life long before then. Today, I understand how much of this land remains with me and how much of my own story also belongs to all of you," he emphasized.
The Pope said he was returning as the successor of Peter, called to serve the universal Church, and that, in light of this responsibility, he recognizes those years as part of the path through which the Lord shaped him as a pastor.
The Supreme Pontiff emphasized that Peru has a history spanning millennia, shaped by peoples with diverse languages and traditions.
He mentioned that part of this history continues to be told in Quechua, Aymara, and the languages of the Amazon.
"Over the centuries, other heritages have joined them, including Afro-Peruvian and Asian-Peruvian contributions, which have also helped shape the country's identity," Leo XIV indicated.
He emphasized that the faith took deep root in these lands and found expression in their traditions and countless charitable works.
It is enough to recall that the first Latin American flower of holiness (saint) bore the name of Rose and was Peruvian, he pointed out.
The Pope emphasized that Peru's regions preserve their own traditions, and each contributes something unique to the country's national life.
In this regard, he stressed that a people's unity is strengthened when these differences are embraced and each person contributes based on their own history and convictions.
"Peru preserves everyday expressions of solidarity: communal initiatives in which neighbors join forces to carry out projects that benefit everyone, the assistance families provide one another in times of difficulty, and the hospitality I have witnessed so many times," Leo XIV said.
"These gestures reveal a way of loving one's homeland that is manifested, above all, in caring for those who inhabit it," he added.
The Supreme Pontiff noted that loving a people means wishing for everyone to be able to live with dignity in their homeland, taking an interest in its well-being, and being willing to give something of oneself for the common good.
"It is a sentiment that I have come to understand better thanks to you, and which I now wish to share with those who hold public office," he underscored.
Pope Leo XIV arrived in Peru on Wednesday to begin his first apostolic visit to the country, which will last until Monday, November 16.
On his first day on Peruvian soil, the Supreme Pontiff is carrying out a series of official engagements in Lima, marking his eagerly awaited meeting with the Peruvian people.
He is also scheduled to visit the following regions: Lambayeque, Ucayali, Cajamarca, and Cusco.