Shortly before 8:00 a.m., Pope Leo XIV left the Episcopal Residence in Chiclayo and headed to Santa María Cathedral to preside over the Coronation Rite of the Immaculate Virgin, where thousands of people were waiting for him.
Dressed in white, with his zucchetto covering his head, the Supreme Pontiff walked to Chiclayo Cathedral amid greetings and cheers from the population.
Upon arrival, he entered the church and prayed for a few minutes.
Following this, His Holiness emerged onto the cathedral's atrium to lead the ceremony.
As the Holy Father walked by, he responded to the public's greetings with a glance as they shouted, "The Pope is from Chiclayo!"
Thousands of people from Chiclayo had gathered since the early hours of Saturday at the Main Square and surrounding streets to be close to "their Pope," as they regard him.
Leo XIV served as Bishop of the Diocese of Chiclayo from 2015 to 2023
During that time, he forged a strong bond with parishioners, who remember him as a "priest close to the people" and recall the anecdotes they shared with "Padre Roberto," as they affectionately called him.
A festive atmosphere prevailed at the Main Square in the city of Chiclayo, where the Coronation Rite of the Immaculate Virgin took place at Santa María Cathedral.
The people of Chiclayo recall his role during the difficult times they experienced, such as the passage of Cyclone Yaku, which caused extensive damage, and COVID-19.
During the pandemic, he led a campaign to secure an oxygen plant, a vital resource that saved the lives of thousands of people affected by the disease.