Pope Leo XIV Visits Lima Stadium
““This is the Pope’s youth! Welcome home, Holy Father!”” shouted a crowd of aptuveni 60 tk. young people as Pope Leo XIV arrived at the National Stadium in Lima on the evening of November 12, according to Vatican News.
The current itinerary takes the pope to Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru, according to LSM.
Uruguay hosted a Catholic pope for the first time in 40 years on this trip, where only 33% of residents identify as Catholic, LSM noted. Meanwhile, Argentina marks the homeland of the late Pope Francis, a country he never visited during his 12-year papacy, according to LSM.
Pope Leo XIV knows his third stop, Peru, intimately from working there in the 1980s as a missionary before later serving as a bishop and gaining citizenship, LSM reported. Thousands more youth gathered outside the Lima venue to greet him alongside Cardinal Carlos Gustavo Castillo Matasoljo, Archbishop of Lima, Vatican News stated.
Testimonies at the Youth Vigil
Three young speakers shared personal struggles with faith and loss during the prayer vigil inside the stadium. Youth pastoral coordinator Emilia Milagrosa talked about losing several close family members. Sister Luzbinda Ramos described sinking into depression and stepping away from the Church after her mother died unexpectedly.
The pontiff structured his speech around passion, vocation, and friendship
The pontiff structured his speech around three key words: passion, vocation, and friendship.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is this trip notable for Pope Leo XIV?
LSM reported that the journey takes place only one month after surgeons removed a malignant tumor from the pontiff.
Which countries are on the papal itinerary?
The apostolic journey includes stops in Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru, according to LSM.
How many people attended the Lima vigil?
Vatican News stated that roughly 60,000 young people filled the National Stadium, while another aptuveni 300 tk. gathered in the surrounding streets.