Pope crosses Peru in finale of trip home to visit flock high in Andes, deep in Amazon

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The plight of Indigenous peoples and the protection of the Amazon take center stage on Pope Leo XIV’s penultimate day in Peru as he visits communities in the Andes and the…

The plight of Indigenous peoples and the protection of the Amazon take center stage on Pope Leo XIV’s penultimate day in Peru as he visits communities in the Andes and the rainforest

CUSCO, Peru -- The plight of Indigenous peoples and the protection of the Amazon take center stage Sunday as Pope Leo XIV travels across Peru to visit communities high in the Andes and deep in the rainforest.

On the penultimate day of his visit to his adopted homeland, Leo is expected to echo Pope Francis, emphasizing Catholic teaching that links care for the most vulnerable with care for God’s creation.

He travels first to Cusco, the former capital of the Inca empire, before flying to the Amazonian city of Pucallpa, where illegal mining, deforestation and threats to Indigenous communities will be central concerns.

“The church in Peru perceives the continuity of his commitment to accompany Indigenous peoples in the defense of life and the care of the territory, which is increasingly threatened by deforestation and illegal mining,” Peruvian Cardinal Pedro Barreto, president of the Amazon bishops conference, told The Associated Press.

“Leo is clearing the path laid out” by Francis on environmental protection and human rights, Barreto said. He added that the pope would hear about violence affecting children and young people.

The visit to Cusco, 3,400 meters (more than 11,000 feet) above sea level, will test the stamina of the pope, who is recovering from lung cancer surgery.

His schedule begins at the historic Sacsayhuamán fortress, where he will speak about local religious devotion. In the Plaza de Armas, he will present a shroud from the Holy See for the image of the Lord of the Earthquakes, a focus of devotion in a country prone to seismic activity. He will then deliver a message to the sick before leaving for Pucallpa.

In the rainforest city of 434,000 people, Leo is expected to reinforce Francis’ teachings on protecting the environment and Indigenous communities threatened by illegal mining…

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