Peru's president, Dina Boluarte, described Pope Leo as Peruvian "by choice and conviction". "The pope is Peruvian; God loves Peru," she said. Born in Chicago in 1955, he is the son of Louis Marius Prevost, of French and Italian descent, and Mildred Martinez, of Spanish descent.

In a jubilant atmosphere, more than 10,000 faithful gathered in front of the Basilica and Cathedral of Santa María de Chiclayo (Peru) to celebrate a Thanksgiving Mass for the election of Pope Leo XIV.

In his homily, Bishop Farfán spoke of the profound love the new Pontiff has for Peru — a country he first visited in 1985 — and, in a special way, for the Diocese of Chiclayo, which he pastored from 2014 to 2023.