Pope Leo XIV visits remote Peruvian Andes following recent surgery

Pope Leo XIV traveled to the remote Andean region of Peru as part of his Latin American tour, marking his return to his former diocese just one month after undergoing lung surgery. Flying by helicopter to high-altitude communities over 3,000 meters above sea level, including Santa Cruz de Succhabamba and Chiclayo, the pontiff addressed crowds of thousands of faithful.

During his sermons, Pope Leo focused on the socio-economic challenges affecting rural mountain populations. He highlighted the "suffering of those who are forced to leave their homeland in search of a better future" in coastal cities, while citing youth emigration, declining birth rates, inequality, and resource distribution as key threats to local communities. The Pope urged residents to resist discouragement or violence when confronting these hardships.

Sources: Corriere della Sera, La Repubblica, ANSA, El Mundo, BBC News