Pope Leo Addresses Depopulation and Poverty During Remote Peru Visit

OPA WIRE, Nov 15 (OPA) — Pope Leo XIV spoke on Sunday about the hardship faced by individuals forced to leave their homelands in search of better lives. Addressing a crowd that swelled far beyond the local population of 6,000 in Santa Cruz de Succhabamba, the pontiff highlighted the growing threat to rural communities. The visit took place in a remote part of the Andes mountains within his former diocese.

During an outdoor Mass, the Pope pointed to declining birth rates that continue to empty villages, alongside the unequal distribution of regional resources. Official data shows that more than 40% of the population in the Cajamarca region lives in poverty, marking the highest rate in Peru. The area has also suffered the nation's highest rate of internal migration, with 729,000 natives now living elsewhere in the country.

In his sermon, the Pope expressed gratitude to those who traveled long distances to attend the gathering. He urged residents and pilgrims alike to maintain resilience despite severe economic and social difficulties. Vatican officials reported that the turnout reached approximately 20,000 people despite the extreme isolation of the mountain location.

The Latin America tour follows closely on the heels of major medical procedures. Roughly a month prior to the trip, the pontiff underwent surgery to remove part of his right lung after doctors discovered a cancerous lump during routine health checks.