Lima (EFE) .- Peruvian cardinal Pedro Barreto said Thursday that the Catholic Church has “a Pope who really wants Peru”, highlighting the choice of Peruvian nationalized American Robert Prevosts such as Pope Leo XIV, after the words of recognition he made to the northern city of Chiclayo when he headed to the faithful in the Vatican.
The new Pontiff proclaimed this Thursday, from the balcony of the Basilica of San Pedro: “If they also allow me a word, a greeting … to all those, in particular, to my dear Diocese of Chiclayo in Peru.”
Barreto, former archbishop of Huancayo, commented that he has a pleasant friendship with the new Pope, with whom he is “very close”, since Prevost was vice president of the Peruvian Episcopal Conference (CEP) when he was a bishop of Chiclayo.
He highlighted his simplicity and discretion, but with an attitude of “firmness to say the things that had to be said.”
-He added that Prevost’s choice demonstrates “continuity” in the reforms initiated by the late Pope Francis.
In statements to the local America Televisión, Barreto argued that Prevost’s choice is a “continuity with Pope Francis, in the reforms that Pope Francis has begun in faithfulness to God and the Church” Catholic.
In addition, the Peruvian cardinal indicated that “this gratitude he has given to Pope Francis, all reassures us.”
For its part, the Peruvian Episcopal Conference greeted, in its account of the social network X, “to our Cardinal Robert Prevost as the new successor of Pedro with the name of Leo XIV.”
