Pope Leo heads to high Andes on final leg of South America tour

Pope Leo XIV arrived in the Andes Mountains of Peru on Sunday for the final leg of his South American tour.

The pontiff, who served in Peru for 20 years, was expected to spotlight Indigenous rights and Amazon protection during his remaining engagements.

Leo arrived on Sunday in Cusco, the former capital of the Inca Empire that sits at an altitude of 3,400 meters (more than 11,000 feet).

Peruvian Cardinal Pedro Barreto told the Associated Press that "Leo is clearing the path laid out" by his predecessor, Pope France, on environmental protection and human rights.

Next, we will travel to Pucallpa, a city in the Amazon that faces joint threats from deforestation and illegal mining.

"For us, the pope's arrival is a source of great joy, but it is also a great ​opportunity to make our demands, ‌our grievances, and our problems heard," said Cecilio Soria, an Indigenous human rights activist.

Earlier, on Saturday, Leo held an open-air Mass in town of Santa Cruz de Succhabamba.

He spoke with pleasure of returning to the "steep hills, ravines and fertile valleys, in a land with Andean roots, where the Inca Empire flourished and which is the cradle of a profound Christian faith."

Leo also visited the city of Zana, some 45 kilometers (28 miles) southeast, which is a major center of Afro-Peruvian society.

Leo, who apologized for the Church's role in transatlantic slavery in May. said Zana "preserves the memory of generations of Africans who were torn from their homes and subjected to slavery."

"Many endured great suffering and humiliation. Dear brothers and sisters of African descent, today I want to express my affection and closeness to you," he said.

"Thank you for all that you contribute to the life of this church."

Leo, originally from Chicago, served as the bishop of Chiclayo from 2015 until 2023, when he was called to the Vatican. He holds both US and Peruvian citizenship.

For both Leo and the city's faithful, his stop in Chiclayo marked an emotional homecoming.

Speaking from his former cathedral, he addressed growing unrest and political instability a country where the homicide rate has doubled over the past five years and far-right President Keiko Fujimori was elected after promising to tackle crime.

"We feel threatened by the uncertainty of widespread violence and by the unspeakable suffering that continues to afflict so many of our brothers and sisters," Leo said at the Cathedral of St. Mary in Chiclayo on Saturday.

"Yet, despite this darkness, which so often dims our hope and weakens our trust, God's gift continues to shine before our eyes."

Leo is scheduled to arrive in the Peruvian capital, Lima, on Sunday evening, before traveling back to Rome on Monday.