Peru
Violence is not defeated with more violence. It is one of the strongest messages delivered by Pope Leo XIV on November 14 in Peru.
In the country plagued by insecurity, crime, and deep inequalities, the Pontiff recalled the responsibility not to become accustomed to suffering and not to let injustice become a reason to respond with other forms of brutality.
In the Cathedral of Saint Mary in Chiclayo, the Pope presided over the coronation rite of the Immaculate Virgin. A moment of intense participation, in which he entrusted his ministry and the Peruvian people to Our Lady.
Recalling the years of his episcopal service, he emphasized the need to walk as one family, building a society founded on love, compassion, forgiveness, and the pursuit of justice. A horizon in which mercy is not weakness, but a concrete choice of fraternity.
The day continued in Santa Cruz de Succhabamba, an Andean community that Leo XIV had already visited several times during his ministry in Chiclayo.
Before the Eucharistic celebration, the Pope visited the Parish of the Immaculate Conception and greeted the faithful, paying special attention to the sick.
He assured them of the closeness of the Church, recalling that even through suffering, fidelity, and prayer, they continue to be a living part of the Christian community.
In the meeting with the population, a fundamental dimension of the mission also emerged: service.
Baptism, the Pontiff recalled, calls everyone, from the youngest to the elderly, to become missionary disciples. Not a responsibility reserved for a few, therefore, but a shared vocation that translates into the ability to draw near to others and support those going through difficult times.
Particularly significant was the reminder given during Mass:
“Selfishness, injustice, and evil are not overcome by brutality, but through prayer, patience, and perseverance in denouncing what is wrong.”
A call that also challenges those who work daily in the field of solidarity and mercy: it is not enough to alleviate the consequences of injustice; we must also commit to ensuring that the causes that generate exclusion and suffering are addressed.
In the afternoon, in Zaña, the Pontiff took part in the prayer meeting for the conclusion of the Jubilee Year dedicated to Saint Toribio de Mogrovejo, on the third centenary of his canonization. A shepherd who knew how to reach indigenous peoples, defend their dignity, and proclaim the Gospel in their languages.
Three places, a single call: mercy becomes credible when it translates into listening, defending the most vulnerable, and a daily commitment to justice.
Digitally created image by spazio + spadoni
