Leo XIV in Zaña: "Never grow accustomed to the suffering of others"

"That night I asked the Lord to teach me to be a shepherd. Today, looking back on those years, I understand that you were part of God's answer to that plea." With these words Leo XIV addressed the faithful of Zaña and of the Diocese of Chiclayo, which he once led as bishop, at the prayer meeting closing the Jubilee Year for the third centenary of the canonization of Saint Turibius of Mogrovejo, on Saturday, 14 November, at the shrine dedicated to the saint, on the ninth day of his apostolic journey to Latin America. The address was given in Spanish: the Holy See Press Office Bulletin publishes the official chronicle in English and the full text of the address only in the original language; quotations from the address are our translation from the official Spanish text.

The official account. At 4.30 p.m. local time (10.30 p.m. in Rome), the Press Office reports, the Holy Father left the Bishop's residence and travelled by car to the Shrine of Saint Turibius of Mogrovejo. Upon arrival at the "arch of the authorities" near the Shrine, the Pope received the keys to the city. He then walked towards the chapel of Saint Turibius, accompanied by a traditional dance. Approximately ten thousand faithful took part in the prayer meeting at the Shrine; along the way to Zaña and the Shrine, more than 300 thousand people awaited the Holy Father's passage. The Pope then paused in prayer at the tomb of Saint Turibius and laid a floral tribute. He then proceeded to the stage to begin the prayer meeting. After the welcome greeting from Bishop Edinson Edgardo Farfán Córdova of Chiclayo, the liturgical greeting, the Bible reading and the testimonies of a priest, a missionary and a representative of the Afro-descendant community, the Holy Father delivered his address.

"Thank you for making me feel at home." The Pope spoke of his "deep joy at being here with you. How I have longed for this moment to come!" He recalled the night before he began his ministry as bishop of Chiclayo, spent "in prayer, asking the Lord, through the intercession of Saint Turibius, to grant me the grace to be a shepherd after his own heart." He thanked the community for its welcome, "for so many gestures of affection and also for the tasty food you have prepared for me with such care": "Even those familiar flavours reminded me of the good times I spent here. Thank you for making me feel, once again, that I am at home." He also thanked Bishop Farfán for his words of welcome and those who offered their testimonies, "recognising in your words the faith of this people whom I always carry in my heart."

A shepherd who travels the distance. "In Zaña we can read a summary of his life," Leo XIV said, "for it was here that he gave up his spirit to the Father, while carrying out the pastoral visit that fell to him as bishop of the place. His life reminds us that the love of a shepherd is also recognised in the distances, physical and existential, that he is willing to travel in order to proclaim Jesus Christ." He recalled the empty tomb, where the remains of Saint Turibius rested for a short time before being taken to Lima, and the faith of the remote communities he came to know in his Chiclayo years, such as Incahuasi and Kañaris, with the welcome of their families and the dedication of the priests and, in a special way, of the women religious who accompany them: "How many times I arrived to proclaim the Gospel and returned having understood it a little better thanks to your faith!"

Descendants of African slaves and victims of crime. The Pope remembered "generations of African men and women, taken from their homes and subjected to slavery." "Many," he said, "endured great suffering and humiliation." To his Afro-descendant brothers and sisters he expressed "affection and closeness," entrusting them to the example of Saint Martin de Porres, "to whom Saint Turibius himself administered Confirmation." Then came the passage on crime: "I know that many families in this land suffer because of crime, extortion and insecurity. It pains me to think of those who live in fear, of people who see the honest fruit of their work under threat, and of those who still suffer discrimination. I keep them present in my prayer and I ask the Lord to grant them the peace they so greatly need." And his appeal: "I ask you to remain united, to care for one another and never to grow accustomed to the suffering of others. There is always someone we can help, a person we can listen to, a family we can accompany."

Priests, families and young people. Recalling his letter to the bishops of Latin America and the Caribbean, Leo XIV described Saint Turibius as a shepherd "who had allowed the Gospel to shape his life first of all" (Letter to the Latin American and Caribbean Bishops on the third centenary of the canonization of Saint Turibius of Mogrovejo, 8 September 2026). He asked priests to care for their "daily friendship with Jesus Christ," to celebrate "the sacraments with love and reverence" and to remain "always close to the people entrusted to you"; parents and grandparents to keep "passing on the faith to your children and grandchildren"; and young people to open their hearts to the Lord, "who knows you and has a beautiful vocation for each one of you."

The final thanksgiving. Before concluding, the Pope returned to that night of prayer and remembered "with special affection those who have already gone to the Father's house and whom I hope to meet again one day." Then the words with which he had taken up the memory of that night: "That night I asked the Lord to teach me to be a shepherd. Today, looking back on those years, I understand that you were part of God's answer to that plea. That is why I want to thank you with all my heart." And he added: "Now that the Lord has entrusted me with the care of the universal Church, I ask Him again for the same grace, aware of how much I still have to learn. I ask you to keep praying for me, as I know you have been doing until now." He invoked the intercession of the Blessed Virgin and of Saint Turibius of Mogrovejo, "so that you may continue faithfully along the paths of the Gospel."

After the address. The gathering then continued, according to the Press Office, with the Prayer to Saint Turibius, the Hymn to Saint Turibius, the Lord's Prayer and the blessing. This was followed by the presentation of a gift to the Pontiff. On his return to the chapel of Saint Turibius, the Pope paused for a moment of prayer and the presentation of the crown of Our Lady of the Assumption of Cutervo. After watching a traditional dance, he entered the car and travelled to the Bishop's residence in Chiclayo.

Updated at 2:18 a.m. (Rome time) with the official chronicle and the full Spanish text of the address published in the Holy See Press Office Bulletin (B0918).

Sources: Holy See Press Office Bulletin, official Spanish text of the address.

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