# Pope Leo's Peru Homecoming

> Pope Leo XIV visits Peru to honor liberation theology roots amid Latin American tensions.
- Title: Pope Leo's Peru Homecoming · The Conversation | Shortify
- Summary: Pope Leo XIV visits Peru to honor liberation theology roots amid Latin American tensions. Pope Leo XIV's Peru trip honors St.
- Keywords: pope leo xiv, liberation theology, st oscar romero, peru, catholic church, latin america, pope, religious conflict, shining path, peruvian citizenship, joseph ratzinger, pope john paul ii
- Source: The Conversation — https://theconversation.com/pope-leos-trip-is-a-homecoming-to-peru-where-debate-over-liberation-theology-roiled-the-church-during-his-early-years-as-a-priest-294299
- Author: Eben Levey
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: pope leo xiv, liberation theology, st oscar romero, peru, catholic church, latin america, pope, religious conflict, shining path, peruvian citizenship, joseph ratzinger, pope john paul ii
## Pope Leo's Latin America Visit
Pope Leo XIV travels to Latin America on Nov. 6, 2026, with a packed itinerary through Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru.
## Pope's Peru Connection
Leo spent two decades in Peru and holds Peruvian citizenship, making this a homecoming for the pope.
## Liberation Theology Origins
Liberation theology was coined in a 1968 lecture by Peruvian theologian Gustavo Gutiérrez.
## Liberation Theology Impact
Gutiérrez and like-minded theologians argued Christians have a moral duty to liberate the oppressed.
## Liberation Theology in Peru
Liberationists tailored economic justice projects to address how international and national companies profited off low wages of miners and farmers.
## Vatican's Stance Shift
The Vatican shifted when Pope John Paul II became pope in 1978, fearing liberation theology's use of Marxist analysis.
## Pope John Paul II's Actions
John Paul ordered a Peruvian bishop investigation of Gutiérrez over Marxism's influence on his work.
## Pope Leo's Background
Leo, born Robert Prevost, began his priesthood in Peru in 1985 after ordination.
## Chulucanas Pastoral Work
In Chulucanas, Peru, Leo worked with community programs to provide literacy education and poverty discussions.
## St. Oscar Romero's Legacy
St. Oscar Romero was assassinated in 1980 after speaking out against human rights violations by the Salvadoran military.
## Pope's Chapel Visit
Leo visits the Capilla San Óscar Romero chapel in Chiclayo, his former diocese, for private prayer.
## Romero's Final Message
Romero urged soldiers to 'Cease the repression' before his assassination in 1980.

> No soldier is obliged to obey an order counter to the law of God
## Key takeaway

Pope Leo XIV's Peru trip honors St. Oscar Romero and liberation theology history that shaped his early priesthood.