Pope crosses Peru in finale of trip home to visit flock high in Andes, deep in Amazon
Summary
Pope Leo XIV is traveling through Peru on the penultimate day of a 12-day visit, with stops planned in Cusco and the Amazonian city of Pucallpa. His visit focuses on Indigenous communities, environmental protection, and concerns about illegal mining, deforestation, and violence affecting young people.Key Facts
- Leo is visiting Cusco, the former capital of the Inca Empire, at an elevation of about 3,400 meters.
- In Cusco, he is scheduled to visit the Sacsayhuamán fortress and present a shroud for an image of the Lord of the Earthquakes.
- In Pucallpa, Leo is expected to meet Indigenous people from Shipibo, Asháninka, and Kukama communities.
- A planned symbolic event in Pucallpa involves planting a shihuahuaco, a native rainforest tree that can live for more than 1,000 years.
- Illegal gold mining in the Amazon damages forests and pollutes rivers; miners use mercury and makeshift suction dredges.
- Leo is recovering from lung cancer surgery.
- Peruvian Cardinal Pedro Barreto said the pope’s visit continues the Catholic Church’s efforts to support Indigenous people and protect their lands.
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