Apostolic Journey of His Holiness Pope Leo XIV to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru (6 – 17 November 2026) – Departure from Chiclayo and Arrival in Santa Cruz de Succhabamba, Holy Mass on the esplanade of Santa Cruz de Succhabamba
Departure from Chiclayo and Arrival in Santa Cruz de Succhabamba
Holy Mass on the esplanade of Santa Cruz de Succhabamba
Departure from Chiclayo and Arrival in Santa Cruz de Succhabamba
At 9.00 (15.00 in Rome), the Holy Father left the Cathedral of Saint Mary and transferred by car to the Teniente Coronel Pedro Ruiz Gallo – Grupo Aéreo No. 6 Air Base, where at 9.20 he departed by helicopter bound for Santa Cruz de Succhabamba. He arrived in Santa Cruz at 10.07.
The Pope transferred immediately by car to the esplanade of Santa Cruz de Succhabamba, stopping at the Parish of Our Lady Immaculate. Here the Pontiff was welcomed at the entrance to the building by the parish priest, who accompanied him to the Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament for a moment of prayer. He then paused in silent prayer before the image of the Señor del Costado , to which he offered a floral tribute. At the end, the Holy Father greeted the faithful inside the church and spent a few moments with some people with disabilities.
Holy Mass on the esplanade of Santa Cruz de Succhabamba
At 10.45 (16.45 in Rome), Pope Leo XIV arrived by car at the esplanade of Santa Cruz de Succhabamba, where at 11.06 he presided over the Eucharistic celebration. The Pontiff was awaited by over twenty thousand faithful.
Upon arrival at the esplanade, the Pontiff toured among the faithful in an open car.
After the introductory rites and the Liturgy of the Word, the Pope delivered his homily.
At the end of Holy Mass, Bishop Edinson Egdardo Farfán Córdova of Chiclayo addressed some words of gratitude to the Holy Father.
The Pope then delivered a greeting to the faithful present.
At 13.00, after presenting the gift and returning to the sacristy, the Holy Father transferred by car to the heliport in Santa Cruz, from where he departed by helicopter at 12.50, bound for Chiclayo.
The helicopter carrying the Holy Father landed at the Teniente Coronel Pedro Ruiz Gallo – Grupo Aéreo No. 6 Air Base in Chiclayo at 13.30.
The Pope then returned by car to the Bishop’s residence.
The following are the Homily delivered by the Pope during the Eucharistic celebration after the proclamation of the Gospel, and his impromptu remarks at the conclusion of the Holy Mass:
Homily of the Holy Father
Impromptu Remarks of His Holiness Pope Leo XIV at the Conclusion of Holy Mass
Homily of the Holy Father
Dear brothers and sisters: welcome to this celebration, and thank you to Santa Cruz for this warm reception!
“This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it” ( Ps 118:24). In this Eucharist, as I have done so many times, I come to share with you the joy of being a disciple and missionary of Christ. We are here in Santa Cruz, we are in the Department of Cajamarca; we are in the mountain range of the Peruvian Andes, amid these beautiful hills, with ravines and fertile valleys, in a land with Andean roots, where the Inca Empire flourished and which is the cradle of a profound Christian faith. Many of you have traveled long distances to be here. Some have come from rural communities, leaving behind your families, farms and daily occupations. The journey you made is not only a passage along difficult roads, but also a pilgrimage of faith. Indeed, every step and effort express one desire. Their only desire is this: to encounter Jesus, who is venerated here, at Santa Cruz, with the image of el Señor del Costado , they have come to encounter Christ, listening to his word, to receive his Body and Blood and, nourished by this food, to be strengthened in hope.
The first reading, taken from the Third Letter of Saint John (cf. 3 Jn 5-8), compiles some of the instructions given to a Christian named Gaius. After commending his well-known generosity, Saint John asks him to care of itinerant missionaries and provide for their needs, recalling that, for the sake of Christ, “they began their journey, accepting no support from non-believers” (cf. v. 7). The same marvelous work took place five centuries ago in these mountains — silent witnesses to the birth of the first Christian communities — thanks to the work of missionaries. Time and again, they came without provisions or letters of recommendation, to proclaim the name of Jesus and the love of the Lord of Miracles of Andabamba and of his Immaculate Mother.
Since the arrival of the first missionaries, from Turibius of Mogrovejo to the Martyrs of Chimbote, the seed of the Gospel has never ceased to take root and bear fruit in these lands, quietly, far from applause or great recognition. In this way, here in the Andes, faith has grown simply and genuinely, founded on the daily living of Gospel values and expressed in traditions and festivals that bring peoples and generations together. Faith has become a distinguishing mark and a way of life in which no one ever feels alone, not even in the face of adversity. We can say that the warmth and joy that characterize so many Andean regions are rooted in respect for and love of the Lord’s commandments (cf. Ps 112:1), and reflect “a thirst for God which only the simple and poor can know” ( Evangelii Nuntiandi , 48). For this reason, in Evangelii Gaudium , Pope Francis spoke of popular piety as a powerful force for evangelization, in which “the faith, once received, becomes embodied in a culture and is constantly passed on” (no. 123). Popular piety holds essentials such as the land, honest work and the family in high regard, and offers a healthy antidote to the superficiality and consumerism that are so widespread today.
I therefore wish to honor with gratitude the memory of the many missionary priests and men and women religious who, over the centuries, have worked generously and devotedly to spread the Kingdom of God on these hills. Our prayer of thanksgiving also rises for the catechists who, often in the absence of priests and not without sacrifice, provide pastoral care for the communities, guiding their brothers and sisters in the celebration of the Liturgy of the word, preparing them for the Sacraments, visiting the sick and responding to their needs. Let us pray in a special way for those whom the Lord has already called to himself, whose memory remains alive in the communities. Without them, evangelization in these remote regions would have proven very difficult. Let us give thanks to the Lord for the countless laypeople who are committed in different ways to proclaiming the Gospel, both here and throughout the world.
In the Gospel (cf. Lk 18:1-8), Jesus spoke of a widow — a symbol of social disadvantage and dependence in the cultural context of that time. Defenseless and oppressed, the poor woman persistently sought justice from a judge who neither feared God nor respected anyone, and remained indifferent to her pleas. Only through her perseverance did she finally obtain justice.
As Jesus tells us, the parable reminds us above all how important it is to pray without ever losing heart. But it is also an invitation to open our eyes to the many painful situations around us. The widow’s plea to the judge — “Grant me justice against my opponent” (v. 3) — is sadly still heard today, unanswered, on the lips of so many men and women. This is a matter of great concern for both the Church and society. Let us think, for example, of the suffering of those who are forced to leave their homeland in search of a better future for themselves and their families in the great coastal cities; of the difficulties surrounding generational succession due to the declining birth rates that are emptying villages; and of the challenge of equitably distributing the land’s resources.
In the face of so many difficulties, we may be tempted to give in to discouragement, resentment or even violence. Yet this will never lead to progress and peace. The widow in the parable shows us that selfishness, injustice and evil are not overcome by brutality, but by prayer, patience and perseverance in denouncing what is wrong, by making our pleas with determination and working diligently to bring about the necessary changes, while never losing trust in God. Then, as happens at the summit of Cerro Cotorumi , through the cross we see the sky.
What sustains the woman in the Gospel in her tenacity is faith, as the question with which Jesus concludes the account makes clear: “And yet, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?” (v. 8). There is a close relationship between faith, prayer and action. Where there is faith, there is prayer; and where there is prayer, there is the capacity to commit oneself to others. You who inhabit these lands know this well. Despite many difficulties, you never lost your trust in God nor, with his help, in yourselves. It is faith that makes you great in your aspirations and projects. In this regard, I wish to commend those who, with ingenuity and an entrepreneurial spirit, strive to provide people with dignified jobs: farmers, shopkeepers, small business owners and so many others who, here day after day, put their God-given talents at the service of their communities, helping to promote authentic models of integral human development through employment (cf . Magnifica Humanitas , 181).
Dear brothers and sisters, the Lord knows the paths you travel, your hardships, your worries and the challenges you face. He understands the hopes of the young, inspires the wisdom of the elderly and does not abandon you. When the soul wanders aimlessly, he is the way. When strength is lacking, he is your nourishment. When discouragement arises, it is he who rekindles hope. Let us ask our Lady of the Immaculate Conception never to cease protecting us beneath her mantle, and may the Eucharist we celebrate renew the faith in all of us, strengthening our commitment and dedication. And may el Señor del Costado , venerated with such devotion here in Santa Cruz, bless you, protect you and always inspire thoughts and gestures of unity, charity and peace.
Impromptu Remarks of His Holiness Pope Leo XIV at the Conclusion of Holy Mass
Dear brothers and sisters ,
Before giving the final blessing, I just want to share one more brief reflection. We have heard the words of the Gospel in which Jesus asks, “when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?” I know that if Jesus decides to come to Santa Cruz, he will find faith. Thank you for your witness. Thank you for your faithfulness to the Church. Thank you for joining us on this beautiful journey.
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Source: Holy See — Read the full report
