Nearly 2,000 faithful have been gathered since early this morning, Thursday, November 12, in Lima’s Plaza de Armas, awaiting the arrival of Pope Leo XIV. The Pope is scheduled to carry out a series of activities in the capital’s Historic Center as part of the second day of his apostolic visit to Peru.
The attendees—a mix of young people, adults, and families—traveled from various districts across Lima to take part in the events organized by the Holy Father. Many have been on-site since 5:00 a.m., carrying banners, scarves, and welcome signs, all hoping for a chance to see him up close and hear his message.
The atmosphere is filled with singing, applause, and religious chants. One of the most moving moments occurred when the crowd sang the Catholic hymn "Alma Misionera" (Missionary Soul) at the top of their voices.
This brought tears and visible emotion to some of the faithful, who recalled the pastoral work carried out by Robert Prevost in Peru for over three decades—particularly in towns in the northern part of the country.
The event is being enlivened by the Youth Vicariate of the Archdiocese of Lima, which has organized choreographed routines and is keeping the crowd engaged with religious songs such as "Granito de Mostaza" (Mustard Seed), also performed by the "Voces" choir.
Attendees are waving colorful flags—in shades of lilac, yellow, orange, and green—while chanting slogans such as, "You can feel it, you can feel it—the Pope is here!"
Among those present is a group of the faithful from San Juan de Lurigancho, who arrived accompanied by family and friends.
Additionally, several signs welcome the pontiff with messages such as "Pope, welcome home"—a reference to the words he spoke on Wednesday from the balcony of the Apostolic Nunciature, where he expressed his joy at returning to Peru.
Activities of Pope Francis in the Plaza de Armas
According to the official schedule, at 9:30 a.m., the Holy Father will meet with the bishops of Peru in the chapel of the Archbishop's Palace, where he will deliver an address.
Then, at 10:20 a.m., he will participate in the celebration of the Midday Prayer (Hora Media) alongside bishops, priests, men and women religious, seminarians, synodal teams, and pastoral councils at the Basilica Cathedral of Lima, where he will deliver a homily.
The day’s events will continue at 11:30 a.m. with a gathering focused on the challenges and hopes for the future of the Peruvian people, held in the square located in front of the Lima Cathedral. During this event, Pope Francis will address those in attendance, who are eagerly awaiting his arrival at this iconic site in the Historic Center.
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Published: 11/12/2026