The 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 by addressing the faithful in the Vatican.
MIRA: From Chiclayo to the Vatican, since when Pope Leo XIV has Peruvian nationality?
The new Pontiff proclaimed this Thursday, from the balcony of the Basilica of San Pedro: “If you 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, He 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.
Pope Leo XIV, 69, was born in Chicago but developed much of his religious career in Peru, where he obtained nationality in 2015. His link with the Andean country began in 1985, just three years after ordering priest, when he arrived in an Augustinian mission. Later he directed the Augustinian Seminary of Trujillo for ten years and was appointed Bishop of Chiclayo.
Before his choice as Pope, Cardinal Prevost occupied important positions in the Catholic Church:
- President of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America
- Prefect of Dicastery for Bishops since 2023
- Second Vice President of the Peruvian Episcopal Conference (2018-2023)
- Apostolic Administrator of Callao (2020-2021)
