Pope Leo XIV Tells Peru's Leaders "I feel at home" and Urges Never to "give up on seeking ways to alleviate the suffering of peoples and advance toward peace" FULL TEXT

MEETING WITH AUTHORITIES, CIVIL SOCIETY AND THE DIPLOMATIC CORPS
FULL TEXT ADDRESS OF THE HOLY FATHER LEO XIV“Gran Teatro Nacional” (Lima) - Wednesday, November 11, 2026
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Impromptu remarks by the Holy Father to the staff of the Government Palace on the occasion of the courtesy visit to the President of the Republic of Peru

Thank you so much! Good night everyone.

It is a joy—as you can perhaps imagine—for me, after some years, to be able to return to Peru and visit you all. First, because I feel at home. Second, because as Pope it is an honor to come and walk with all men and women of good will: Catholics, Christians… with everyone; because together we always want to seek the good of all the people. And I am very convinced of the great values ​​that exist in the Peruvian people: the spirit of community, the spirit of unity. Furthermore, I believe it is very important that we always seek ways to work together, to overcome our differences, to use dialogue, understanding, and perhaps a great deal of patience. Let us also have the conviction that it is possible to achieve much if we walk together. As the President has requested, I gladly offer God's blessing to you, your loved ones, your families, and to all the people of Peru this evening, in these days, and for the future.
The Lord be with you.
May the blessing of Almighty God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, descend upon you today and always. Amen.

Thank you so much! Thank you all!

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Address of the Holy Father

Madam President of the Republic, distinguished Authorities,
ladies and gentlemen:

I am deeply happy to return to Peru. Madam President, I thank you for your warm welcome. I also express my gratitude for the kind invitation to come to this beloved country and to all those who have prepared my trip, making it possible for me to meet with communities from different regions of the country.

This return has a very special meaning for me. My story with Peru began long before the Lord entrusted me with the Diocese of Chiclayo. For years I shared the lives of its people, listened to their concerns, and learned from their faith. Many opened their homes to me, shared their tables with me—and, of course, some good ceviche—and made me feel like one of their own. In 2015, I received Peruvian citizenship. That act manifested a bond that this nation had been weaving in my life for a long time. Today I understand how much of this land remains with me and how much of my own story also belongs to you.

I return as the Successor of Peter, called to serve the universal Church. From this position of responsibility, I recognize in those years a part of the journey by which the Lord formed me as a pastor. If I were granted the opportunity to relive those years, I would do so again with joy, embracing both their happy moments and their difficulties. Therefore, I can say to you, with profound gratitude, that I am also returning to my homeland.

Peru has a history spanning millennia, shaped by peoples of diverse languages ​​and traditions. Part of that history continues to be told in Quechua, Aymara, and the languages ​​of the Amazon. Over the centuries, other heritages have been added, including Afro-Peruvian and Asian-Peruvian, which have also contributed to forming the country's identity. Almost five hundred years ago, the proclamation of the Gospel opened a decisive chapter in that history. As Benedict XVI recalled , "from the encounter of that faith with the native peoples, the rich Christian culture of this continent was born" ( Inaugural Address of the Fifth General Conference of the Latin American Bishops , May 13, 2007). Faith took deep root in these lands and found expression in their traditions and in countless works of charity. It is enough to remember that the first Latin American saint was named Rosa , and that Rosa was Peruvian.

The regions of Peru preserve their own traditions, and each contributes something unique to national life. A people's unity is strengthened when these differences find their place and each person contributes from their own history and convictions. Peru maintains everyday expressions of solidarity: communal work projects where neighbors join forces to carry out a task that benefits everyone, the support families offer each other in times of difficulty, and the hospitality I have witnessed so often. In these gestures, one discovers a way of loving one's country that manifests itself, above all, in caring for its inhabitants.

To love a people is to want everyone to live with dignity within their community, to care about them, and to be willing to offer something of oneself for their well-being. It is a sentiment I have come to understand better thanks to you, and one I wish to share today with those who hold public office.

Madam President, distinguished authorities: this concern for the good of others is admirably realized in public service. Pope Francis , who visited this beloved land in 2018, reminded us that politics “is a most high vocation, one of the most precious forms of charity, because it seeks the common good” (Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Gaudium , 205). Democratic life brings together people of diverse convictions and aspirations, united by a shared national destiny. Institutions provide channels for these differences to find expression and for paths of understanding to be forged. Public decisions also affect those who live far from where they are made. But this should never be forgotten.

To understand the needs of those who are far away, we must begin by listening to them. I recall seemingly simple conversations in which the difficulties of a family or the hopes of an entire community surfaced. In a country where so many languages ​​are spoken, listening also requires ensuring that everyone can be understood. Those who turn to institutions expect to be heard, to understand the decisions that affect them, and to find someone they can approach with confidence. Behind files, routine procedures, or the abstract number of the national census, there are real faces awaiting answers upon which much of their peace of mind depends.

Listening requires special patience when facing disagreements or painful experiences. Peru, too, has gone through difficult times that have tested the coexistence of its people. Past events deserve to be addressed with fairness and sensitivity, allowing space for harmony to grow and differences to be confronted with respect. Democratic life implies recognizing that no one has all the answers and that differences do not prevent us from sharing a sincere concern for the good of the country. I would like to encourage everyone to cultivate honesty, integrity, and a willingness to engage in dialogue—qualities that sustain trust among people and strengthen institutions.

For families, peace has a very concrete meaning: going to work without fear, caring for their children, and returning home in peace. These are simple aspirations, but no one should be deprived of them. The Church is aware of the suffering caused by violence and wishes to remain close to those who endure it, encouraging the efforts of all who work to protect life, dignity, and human rights through law and justice.

Providing for one's family with dignity is also part of that everyday peace. I think of those who cultivate the land, the fishermen who go out to sea, the small business owners, and those who sustain the activity of our cities. Each of these jobs contributes to the life of the nation and deserves to be recognized in its dignity. Saint Paul VI taught that authentic development must promote "all men and the whole person" (Encyclical Letter Populorum Progressio , 14). This development encompasses the material well-being and the cultural, moral, and spiritual aspirations of each person. There are goods that no amount of economic prosperity can replace: peace of conscience, the certainty of being loved, and the freedom to seek the truth and orient one's life accordingly.

The desire to seek the truth begins to manifest itself very early, in the questions with which a child discovers the world. A school capable of nurturing this search can open horizons that once seemed distant and help them recognize their own abilities. I think with gratitude of the teachers in the various regions of Peru, who accompany this discovery and transmit to their students the values ​​of their land, so that they learn to know and love it. But the horizons that open up in the classroom need to find real opportunities afterward. I offer a word of affection to young people, especially those seeking their first job or preparing for new responsibilities. Let us work so that they can develop their talents and generously put them at the service of others, especially those most in need.

When someone becomes ill or requires ongoing care, it also changes the lives of those around them. Anyone who has cared for a loved one knows how much timely medical attention, a friendly presence, and a word of comfort mean. I think of the elderly, people with disabilities, and those suffering from loneliness or mental health challenges. Many families silently shoulder this burden, often at great personal sacrifice. I urge the authorities to support this dedication by providing accessible healthcare services and strengthening preventative medicine. Those who devote their energy to caring for others also need to find someone to care for them.

I also think of the many Peruvian women who have run soup kitchens and community kitchens, and those who, through their professions and public responsibilities, contribute to the good of the country. May they all be able to freely develop their abilities, participate fully in their communities, and live free from violence and any form of exploitation.

In Peru, the Amazonian rivers, the Andean highlands, and the extensive coastline shape the lives of numerous communities and the work of their inhabitants. The use of these resources, through agriculture, fishing, or mining, requires caring for nature and respecting the communities that depend on it (cf. Francis, Encyclical Letter Laudato si' , 183). Understanding each territory allows us to anticipate the risks of natural phenomena and better protect the population. The solidarity that Peruvians demonstrate in emergencies deserves to be matched by equally committed institutions, capable of prevention and of acting promptly when a life is in danger.

Science and technology help us anticipate many of these risks. Their advances also allow us to improve healthcare and bring educational opportunities to remote communities. Artificial intelligence expands these possibilities and transforms how we work and relate to one another. As I recalled in Magnifica Humanitas , these new capabilities demand discernment and a responsible orientation toward the common good (cf. n. 5). May their benefits reach everyone and may their development remain at the service of human dignity. Adequate legal safeguards are also necessary to prevent potential abuses and protect individuals from their consequences.

Environmental protection and the responsible use of new technologies also require collaboration between countries. Due to its Andean and Amazonian location and its access to the Pacific, Peru maintains ties with neighboring nations and with peoples on other continents. Numerous issues affecting the lives of its inhabitants, from environmental protection to migration patterns, find better solutions through dialogue and cooperation.

On the other hand, I think of the many Peruvians who live abroad and who, while building their lives in other lands, maintain their affection for their families and contribute to their communities of origin. In distant cities, the image of the Lord of Miracles continues to bring together Peruvians who find in that devotion a way to preserve their ties to their homeland. I myself have seen Rome adorned in purple! Distance does not necessarily diminish love for one's country; sometimes it allows us to recognize more clearly how much we have received from it. Those who arrive in Peru also bring stories and hopes that deserve welcome and respect. Their stories reveal that relations between countries have very concrete consequences for the lives of families.

The wars and tensions afflicting so many nations demand patient diplomacy that maintains open dialogue, respects international law, and seeks agreements that protect human life and dignity. Every nation has legitimate aspirations, but none can disregard the fate of others. I encourage Peru to continue contributing to regional and international cooperation and to foster understanding, even when positions appear irreconcilable. May we never give up on seeking ways to alleviate the suffering of peoples and advance toward peace.

In this spirit of cooperation, relations between Peru and the Holy See are characterized by this spirit of cooperation. The Peruvian Constitution recognizes the Catholic Church as an important element in the historical, cultural, and moral formation of the nation and provides for the State's collaboration with the Church, within a framework of independence and autonomy, while also respecting other religious denominations (cf. art. 50). The Church, aware of this recognition, wishes to continue offering the Peruvian people what it has received as its mission: to proclaim the Gospel, to accompany those who suffer, and to serve the dignity of every person. This commitment is evident in its communities, in its educational and social welfare works, and in the many lay faithful who, moved by their faith, participate in the life of the country through their professions and civic responsibilities. May this relationship continue to develop with mutual respect, always seeking the good of all Peruvians.

Ladies and gentlemen: there are many ways to serve Peru. I thank those who do so from their institutions and all those who, through their daily work, contribute to the good of their communities. I have received so much from you. There are faces, conversations, and gestures of affection that, after so many years, continue to stay with me. From the See of Peter, I wish to reciprocate such affection with my prayers and my closeness. I would also like to propose to you the Social Doctrine of the Church, as a help to illuminate and guide the efforts of all who work for the good of this nation.

At the well of Saint Rose of Lima, generations of Peruvians have placed their petitions and their hopes. Today, from here, I would like to offer my prayer at that blessed well as well. Through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Saint Rose, and all the saints and blessed of this land, I ask the Lord that the love of Christ may help you recognize, in every Peruvian, a brother, a sister, and in each one, yet another reason to love your country. May God bless Peru and all its inhabitants. Thank you very much.