Pope Leo XIV Brings Message of Hope to Remote Peruvian Andean Community

The town, located in the Cajamarca region, is home to approximately 6,000 residents, yet an estimated 20,000 people gathered to welcome the Pope during his visit, according to Vatican figures.

During an outdoor Mass, Pope Leo spoke of the growing difficulties confronting rural communities, including migration and declining birth rates.

“The suffering of those who are forced to leave their homeland in search of a better future” has left many communities under threat, he said.

The pontiff also highlighted concerns about population decline in rural areas and the unequal distribution of resources.

“Declining birth rates are emptying villages,” he told worshippers.

A Special Return to a Former Diocese

Santa Cruz lies within the **Diocese of Chiclayo, where Pope Leo XIV served as bishop from 2015 to 2023. During that period, he regularly visited the area and its surrounding rural communities.

His return held special significance for local residents, many of whom still remember him as “Father Robert”, the name by which he was known before becoming Pope.

On Saturday, he arrived by helicopter and was greeted by large crowds, singing, and celebrations. He later toured the town in the popemobile, waving to visitors who had travelled from across the region to attend the event.

Speaking at a local parish, the Pope expressed his happiness at returning.

“It is like a very big dream that the Lord has allowed this servant to come here,” he said.

“I feel joy at being able to visit this small town once again.”

Poverty and Migration Challenges

The visit drew attention to the socioeconomic challenges facing the Cajamarca region, where more than 40 percent of residents live in poverty, the highest rate in Peru according to official statistics.

The region has also experienced significant internal migration. Government data shows that approximately 729,000 people born in Cajamarca now live elsewhere in Peru, making it the region with the country’s highest level of outward migration.

Local church leaders said the papal visit had inspired residents and renewed community spirit.

Rev. Kevin Noriega, who was ordained by the then-bishop in 2018, said the occasion brought tremendous emotion to the region.

“People are eager to experience this Holy Mass because after so much time they will be able to see their bishop, ‘Father Robert,’ as they used to call him, now as the Holy Father.”

The visit underscored the Catholic Church’s ongoing focus on rural communities, social justice, and support for populations affected by poverty and migration across Latin America.