Pope Leo XIV meets employees of the Holy See and their families in the Paul VI Hall at the Vatican on Saturday, May 24, 2025. / Credit: Vatican Media

Vatican City, May 28, 2025 / 14:51 pm (CNA).

Pope Leo XIV has reinstated the “conclave bonus” given to Vatican employees for their service during the sede vacante period. 

Approximately 5,000 staff working for the Roman Curia and state institutions — such as the Vatican Museums, the Vatican Pharmacy, the Vatican Library, and Vatican Media — will receive an extra 500 euros (about $566) in their June paychecks.

The custom of distributing conclave bonuses by newly-elected popes is seen as a gesture of gratitude toward Vatican employees who had worked, often overtime, in the weeks following the death of a pope until the election of a new one. 

Though Pope Leo did not speak about the monetary gift in his audience with several Holy See and state workers earlier this month, he expressed his high regard for the men and women who form the different “working communities” of the Vatican.

“To work in the Roman Curia means to contribute to keeping the memory of the Apostolic See alive,” he said at the May 24 meeting. “And, by analogy, this can also be said of the services of Vatican City State.”

“Each one of you gives your contribution, carrying out your daily work with commitment and also with faith, because faith and prayer are like salt for food; they impart flavor,” he added.  

Among the thousands of workers who will benefit from Pope Leo’s monetary gift include men and women who work in the Vatican’s bookstore, clothing stores, gas stations, and post office, along with the Holy See’s other lay and religious staff.

In 2013, the “conclave bonus” tradition was temporarily suspended when Pope Francis was elected. Instead, he chose to redirect the monetary gift to papal charities and welfare institutions as a sign of the Church’s concern for people in need.

Aware of the discontent felt by several Vatican employees to withhold the handout, former Vatican spokesperson Father Federico Lombardi justified scrapping the bonus because, amid the “difficult general economic situation” of the church-state, a pope had not died.

“It did not seem possible or appropriate to burden the budgets of Vatican entities with a considerable extraordinary expense that was not foreseen,” Lombardi said in 2013. 

Though employees missed out on the expected conclave bonus when Francis became pope 12 years ago, several employees with three or more children are benefitting from a monthly 300-euro (about $339) bonus approved by the late pontiff in January 2025.

Under Pope Benedict XIV, Vatican employees were granted a 1,000-euro conclave bonus for the additional work carried out during the sede vacante period after the death of Pope John Paul II in 2005.

Cardinal Wilfrid Napier speaks to EWTN News in Rome on Monday, May 26, 2025. / Credit: EWTN News

CNA Staff, May 28, 2025 / 13:21 pm (CNA).

South African Cardinal Wilfrid Napier this week said the Catholic Church can lead in helping overcome decades of apartheid and racial divide that continue to dominate life in his country. 

Speaking to EWTN News’ Colm Flynn in Rome on Monday, the prelate acknowledged the lingering effects of apartheid, which for decades imposed a rigid racial segregation in South Africa in favor of the nation’s white minority.

Although the racial segregation system was largely abolished by the early 1990s, “the structures of apartheid that were put into place cannot be reversed,” Napier said. 

The ongoing effects of the racist policies, Napier said, are manifested in the reality of “township churches, township parishes, and [then] your more middle-class and sometimes upper-class parishes” in the country. 

“That’s the reality the Church has to work in,” he said, pointing out that the “very deprived areas” mostly consist of Black citizens, while wealthier areas are more mixed. 

The Church can help “overcome” these historically unjust circumstances, he said, by “ensuring that when we have diocesan meetings [and] diocesan structures, we draw from all those backgrounds and bring the people together.”

Napier reflected on participating in protests years ago and being afraid that police might open fire on him and his fellow demonstrators. 

“It was as serious as that sometimes,” he said. “Because we decided as a Church [that] we cannot sit in the background and simply pray in our churches. We have to go out onto the streets.”

South Africa was recently in the news when President Donald Trump, while hosting South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, played footage at a South African rally in which participants chanted “Kill the Boer.” 

Asked about such chants and slogans at South African political events calling for violence and “revolution,” Napier said the “Kill the Boer” slogan was a “protest song.”

“The basis of it was, the government has taken our land,” he said. “They’ve given this land to these Boers, these Afrikaners, [and] they won’t give it back to us... We’ll take it back.” 

Admitting that progress in the often crime-plagued nation has stalled in recent years, the prelate said the Church in South Africa “dropped the ball” in ceding much of the work of reconciliation to politicians. 

Asked by Flynn about the overall state of the Church in South Africa today, Napier said the Catholic Church, if it wants to have “an impact on society,” must start with “good, strong parishes.” 

“If it’s going to have good, strong parishes, it needs good, strong families,” he said. “If it’s going to get new good, strong families, it needs good, strong marriages. To get that, it must have good marriage preparation.” 

“I think that would be my starting point in saying that if we’re going to make an impact on society, we have to look at where society actually gets its strength from, and that is from the family, the community of the family,” he said. 

Flynn’s full interview with Napier can be viewed below.

Cardinal Wilfrid Napier speaks to EWTN News in Rome on Monday, May 26, 2025. / Credit: EWTN News

CNA Staff, May 28, 2025 / 13:21 pm (CNA).

South African Cardinal Wilfrid Napier this week said the Catholic Church can lead in helping overcome decades of apartheid and racial divide that continue to dominate life in his country. 

Speaking to EWTN News’ Colm Flynn in Rome on Monday, the prelate acknowledged the lingering effects of apartheid, which for decades imposed a rigid racial segregation in South Africa in favor of the nation’s white minority.

Although the racial segregation system was largely abolished by the early 1990s, “the structures of apartheid that were put into place cannot be reversed,” Napier said. 

The ongoing effects of the racist policies, Napier said, are manifested in the reality of “township churches, township parishes, and [then] your more middle-class and sometimes upper-class parishes” in the country. 

“That’s the reality the Church has to work in,” he said, pointing out that the “very deprived areas” mostly consist of Black citizens, while wealthier areas are more mixed. 

The Church can help “overcome” these historically unjust circumstances, he said, by “ensuring that when we have diocesan meetings [and] diocesan structures, we draw from all those backgrounds and bring the people together.”

Napier reflected on participating in protests years ago and being afraid that police might open fire on him and his fellow demonstrators. 

“It was as serious as that sometimes,” he said. “Because we decided as a Church [that] we cannot sit in the background and simply pray in our churches. We have to go out onto the streets.”

South Africa was recently in the news when President Donald Trump, while hosting South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, played footage at a South African rally in which participants chanted “Kill the Boer.” 

Asked about such chants and slogans at South African political events calling for violence and “revolution,” Napier said the “Kill the Boer” slogan was a “protest song.”

“The basis of it was, the government has taken our land,” he said. “They’ve given this land to these Boers, these Afrikaners, [and] they won’t give it back to us... We’ll take it back.” 

Admitting that progress in the often crime-plagued nation has stalled in recent years, the prelate said the Church in South Africa “dropped the ball” in ceding much of the work of reconciliation to politicians. 

Asked by Flynn about the overall state of the Church in South Africa today, Napier said the Catholic Church, if it wants to have “an impact on society,” must start with “good, strong parishes.” 

“If it’s going to have good, strong parishes, it needs good, strong families,” he said. “If it’s going to get new good, strong families, it needs good, strong marriages. To get that, it must have good marriage preparation.” 

“I think that would be my starting point in saying that if we’re going to make an impact on society, we have to look at where society actually gets its strength from, and that is from the family, the community of the family,” he said. 

Flynn’s full interview with Napier can be viewed below.

Doug Burton of Truth Nigeria speaks to “EWTN News Nightly” anchor Erik Rosales on May 27, 2025, about the brutal massacre in Nigeria that occurred May 25. / Credit: “EWTN News Nightly” screenshot

Washington, D.C. Newsroom, May 28, 2025 / 10:37 am (CNA).

A brutal attack by extremist Muslim herdsmen in Nigeria on Sunday left dozens dead and resulted in the kidnapping of a Catholic priest and several nuns.

Hundreds of Jihadist Fulani herdsmen gunned down nearly 40 people, more than half of them Christians, across several villages on Sunday, according to a report by Truth Nigeria, a humanitarian-aid nonprofit that seeks to document Nigeria’s struggles with corruption and crime.

The attack occurred three days after the shooting of Father Solomon Atongo, a priest of St. John Quasi Parish in Jimba, and the kidnapping of two of his companions. Atongo is currently receiving treatment for his wounds.

Some of Sunday’s attacks took place in Aondona, the hometown of Bishop Wilfred Anagbe of Makurdi, and appear to be retaliatory after Anagbe, who is a Claretian missionary, testified in a hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., in March that the Nigerian government is doing nothing to stop the systemic persecution and elimination of Christians.

Violence in the region has increased since Anagbe’s testimony in the U.S. capital, according to Douglas Burton, director of Truth Nigeria, who appeared on “EWTN News Nightly” on Tuesday to discuss ongoing violence and kidnappings occurring across the West African country.

“It’s a tragic situation, and the story is in play,” Burton told anchor Erik Rosales regarding Sunday’s attacks in the central Benue state. “And what happened is that Fulani terrorists attacked [Anagbe’s] home village.”

As reported by the National Catholic Register, CNA’s sister news partner, Anagbe testified on March 12 before the U.S. House of Representatives’ Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa that “the experience of the Nigerian Christians today can be summed up as that of a Church under Islamist extermination. It is frightening to live there.”

Later that day Anagbe told “EWTN News Nightly” that “the persecution of Christians generally and Catholics in Nigeria is the work of an Islamic agenda to conquer the territory and make it become an Islamic state in West Africa.”

Burton estimated the number of deaths to be “up to 36” in this Sunday’s massacre in Anagbe’s village, though Reuters has reported the death toll to be “at least 42 people” overall in the attacks in the Ahume, Tyolaha, and Tse-Ubiam villages that day. 

A former State Department official, Burton said he was unaware of the Nigerian government making any arrests in connection with the Sunday attacks. “There’s been no evidence that these attacks will be halted,” he said. 

This is not a surprise to Burton, who further explained on “EWTN News Nightly” that the Nigerian army “is really overstretched,” with over half of the country’s military concentrated in the northeast region of the 36-state country, where there is currently a “deadly insurgency.” 

He also noted unrest in the far-west region in addition to the Middle Belt states, where Sunday’s attacks occurred. “The Nigerian military really needs more people and the police need more recruitment,” Burton said. “That has been the position that we have taken at Truth Nigeria.”

Nigeria is the largest country on the African continent and the sixth-largest country in the world, with a population of approximately 236 million.

Doug Burton of Truth Nigeria speaks to “EWTN News Nightly” anchor Erik Rosales on May 27, 2025, about the brutal massacre in Nigeria that occurred May 25. / Credit: “EWTN News Nightly” screenshot

Washington, D.C. Newsroom, May 28, 2025 / 10:37 am (CNA).

A brutal attack by extremist Muslim herdsmen in Nigeria on Sunday left dozens dead and resulted in the kidnapping of a Catholic priest and several nuns.

Hundreds of Jihadist Fulani herdsmen gunned down nearly 40 people, more than half of them Christians, across several villages on Sunday, according to a report by Truth Nigeria, a humanitarian-aid nonprofit that seeks to document Nigeria’s struggles with corruption and crime.

The attack occurred three days after the shooting of Father Solomon Atongo, a priest of St. John Quasi Parish in Jimba, and the kidnapping of two of his companions. Atongo is currently receiving treatment for his wounds.

Some of Sunday’s attacks took place in Aondona, the hometown of Bishop Wilfred Anagbe of Makurdi, and appear to be retaliatory after Anagbe, who is a Claretian missionary, testified in a hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., in March that the Nigerian government is doing nothing to stop the systemic persecution and elimination of Christians.

Violence in the region has increased since Anagbe’s testimony in the U.S. capital, according to Douglas Burton, director of Truth Nigeria, who appeared on “EWTN News Nightly” on Tuesday to discuss ongoing violence and kidnappings occurring across the West African country.

“It’s a tragic situation, and the story is in play,” Burton told anchor Erik Rosales regarding Sunday’s attacks in the central Benue state. “And what happened is that Fulani terrorists attacked [Anagbe’s] home village.”

As reported by the National Catholic Register, CNA’s sister news partner, Anagbe testified on March 12 before the U.S. House of Representatives’ Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa that “the experience of the Nigerian Christians today can be summed up as that of a Church under Islamist extermination. It is frightening to live there.”

Later that day Anagbe told “EWTN News Nightly” that “the persecution of Christians generally and Catholics in Nigeria is the work of an Islamic agenda to conquer the territory and make it become an Islamic state in West Africa.”

Burton estimated the number of deaths to be “up to 36” in this Sunday’s massacre in Anagbe’s village, though Reuters has reported the death toll to be “at least 42 people” overall in the attacks in the Ahume, Tyolaha, and Tse-Ubiam villages that day. 

A former State Department official, Burton said he was unaware of the Nigerian government making any arrests in connection with the Sunday attacks. “There’s been no evidence that these attacks will be halted,” he said. 

This is not a surprise to Burton, who further explained on “EWTN News Nightly” that the Nigerian army “is really overstretched,” with over half of the country’s military concentrated in the northeast region of the 36-state country, where there is currently a “deadly insurgency.” 

He also noted unrest in the far-west region in addition to the Middle Belt states, where Sunday’s attacks occurred. “The Nigerian military really needs more people and the police need more recruitment,” Burton said. “That has been the position that we have taken at Truth Nigeria.”

Nigeria is the largest country on the African continent and the sixth-largest country in the world, with a population of approximately 236 million.

Some of us were raised in environments where it was fine to ask questions. Perhaps our parents, teachers, and pastors were happy to entertain our curiosity about the world around us and the things we didn’t understand. But other families, schools, and church communities view questions as a form of doubt or a challenge to […]

The post When talking to Jesus, there are no silly questions appeared first on U.S. Catholic.

Pope Leo XIV speaks in front of the famous icon at the Shrine of the Mother of Good Counsel in Genazzano, Italy, on Saturday, May 10, 2025. / Credit: Vatican Media

Vatican City, May 28, 2025 / 07:00 am (CNA).

Pope Leo XIV is now granting apostolic blessings to the faithful around the world, a spiritual gesture that can be officially requested through the Vatican’s Apostolic Almoner’s Office.

These blessings, printed on parchment, are a well-established tradition in the Catholic Church and are available for significant moments in Christian life such as the sacraments of baptism, confirmation, and marriage.

As indicated on the website of the Vatican Apostolic Almoner’s Office, the procedure for obtaining an apostolic blessing can be completed in two ways: in person at the offices of this department or through an online form.

Those who choose the in-person method should go to the offices located within Vatican City, entering through the Porta di Sant’Anna, to the right of the colonnade in St. Peter’s Square. Office hours are Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. local time.

For those not in Rome, the digital process is equally accessible. Through the official website of the Apostolic Almoner’s Office — the only authorized site for this purpose — applicants must follow several steps.

The first step is to select the occasion for which the blessing is being requested (such as a baptism, marriage, or anniversary); then, choose the style of parchment; then, enter the information that should appear on the document; and finally, register the applicant, choose the delivery method (local pickup in Rome or shipping via DHL Express), and make a donation by credit card (only Visa and MasterCard are accepted).

The requested information includes the full name of the recipient(s) of the blessing, the specific occasion, the date and location of the event (in the case of sacraments or anniversaries), as well as the sender’s complete address, email address, and phone number. The system also allows users to open a personal account for future requests. Once the transaction is confirmed, the Apostolic Almoner’s Office will send a confirmation email with the estimated delivery or pickup date.

The processing time for the request is approximately 25 days if picked up at the Vatican office and 30 days for international deliveries. The cost of the parchment ranges between 20 and 30 euros ($23-$34), depending on the style, plus shipping costs, which vary depending on the destination, from 15 euros ($17) for destinations within Italy to 40 euros ($45) if sent to Africa.

It is worth noting that, after deducting the processing and shipping costs, all proceeds go entirely to the charitable works carried out by this office in the name of the pope to help those most in need.

Regarding valid occasions for requesting the apostolic blessing, the almoner’s office establishes strict criteria. They are granted for sacraments such as baptism, first Communion, confirmation, marriage, ordination to the priesthood or permanent diaconate, and religious profession.

They are also available for significant anniversaries of these occasions and for birthdays marking decades or particularly significant ages (such as 18, 30, 75, or even 100 years). In some cases, such as wedding anniversaries or birthdays, the applicant is asked to provide a “declaration of suitability” attesting that the recipients are practicing Catholics.

Applications by regular mail, fax, or email are not accepted, and any requests made outside of authorized channels will be automatically rejected.

Obtaining an apostolic blessing is not only a symbolic gesture of communion with the successor of Peter but also direct support for the charitable works the pontiff carries out on behalf of the entire Church.

This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA.

Pope Leo XIV speaks in front of the famous icon at the Shrine of the Mother of Good Counsel in Genazzano, Italy, on Saturday, May 10, 2025. / Credit: Vatican Media

Vatican City, May 28, 2025 / 07:00 am (CNA).

Pope Leo XIV is now granting apostolic blessings to the faithful around the world, a spiritual gesture that can be officially requested through the Vatican’s Apostolic Almoner’s Office.

These blessings, printed on parchment, are a well-established tradition in the Catholic Church and are available for significant moments in Christian life such as the sacraments of baptism, confirmation, and marriage.

As indicated on the website of the Vatican Apostolic Almoner’s Office, the procedure for obtaining an apostolic blessing can be completed in two ways: in person at the offices of this department or through an online form.

Those who choose the in-person method should go to the offices located within Vatican City, entering through the Porta di Sant’Anna, to the right of the colonnade in St. Peter’s Square. Office hours are Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. local time.

For those not in Rome, the digital process is equally accessible. Through the official website of the Apostolic Almoner’s Office — the only authorized site for this purpose — applicants must follow several steps.

The first step is to select the occasion for which the blessing is being requested (such as a baptism, marriage, or anniversary); then, choose the style of parchment; then, enter the information that should appear on the document; and finally, register the applicant, choose the delivery method (local pickup in Rome or shipping via DHL Express), and make a donation by credit card (only Visa and MasterCard are accepted).

The requested information includes the full name of the recipient(s) of the blessing, the specific occasion, the date and location of the event (in the case of sacraments or anniversaries), as well as the sender’s complete address, email address, and phone number. The system also allows users to open a personal account for future requests. Once the transaction is confirmed, the Apostolic Almoner’s Office will send a confirmation email with the estimated delivery or pickup date.

The processing time for the request is approximately 25 days if picked up at the Vatican office and 30 days for international deliveries. The cost of the parchment ranges between 20 and 30 euros ($23-$34), depending on the style, plus shipping costs, which vary depending on the destination, from 15 euros ($17) for destinations within Italy to 40 euros ($45) if sent to Africa.

It is worth noting that, after deducting the processing and shipping costs, all proceeds go entirely to the charitable works carried out by this office in the name of the pope to help those most in need.

Regarding valid occasions for requesting the apostolic blessing, the almoner’s office establishes strict criteria. They are granted for sacraments such as baptism, first Communion, confirmation, marriage, ordination to the priesthood or permanent diaconate, and religious profession.

They are also available for significant anniversaries of these occasions and for birthdays marking decades or particularly significant ages (such as 18, 30, 75, or even 100 years). In some cases, such as wedding anniversaries or birthdays, the applicant is asked to provide a “declaration of suitability” attesting that the recipients are practicing Catholics.

Applications by regular mail, fax, or email are not accepted, and any requests made outside of authorized channels will be automatically rejected.

Obtaining an apostolic blessing is not only a symbolic gesture of communion with the successor of Peter but also direct support for the charitable works the pontiff carries out on behalf of the entire Church.

This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA.

Edinson Delgado worked closely with then-Bishop Robert Francis Prevost. / Credit: Victoria Isabel Cardiel/EWTN News

Vatican City, May 28, 2025 / 06:00 am (CNA).

The city of Chiclayo in Peru erupted with excitement when the news broke that American missionary Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost Martínez, who pastored their diocese from 2015 to 2023, had been elected as the new successor to St. Peter.

“There was tremendous excitement. We all cheered upon learning that he was now going to be our highest authority in the Catholic Church,” recalled Edinson Delgado, administrator of St. Turibius of Mogrovejo diocesan Catholic school in Chiclayo.

There are several Catholic schools in Chiclayo, most of them run by religious congregations. However, Delgado’s is the only one that reports directly to the diocese, which allowed Delgado, as school administrator, to maintain close and frequent contact with Prevost — now Pope Leo XIV. He thus knows firsthand what his main concerns were.

“He was always very attentive to families, to their formation and their integration into society as a fundamental nucleus. I believe that what he will seek as pope is a Church in Christ, the unity of all, and the promotion of the fundamental role of the family,” Delgado told ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner, from the Eternal City.

Delgado didn’t hesitate to pack his bags and travel to Rome to attend the inaugural Mass of  Pope Leo XIV’s pontificate celebrated in St. Peter’s Square. On May 19, he and his delegation were warmly received by the pontiff at the Vatican.

“We traveled with a delegation of 60 people from Chiclayo, including city officials, laypeople, consecrated persons, religious, and priests. It was a unique and special moment, and we wanted to express our gratitude, appreciation, and closeness to the Holy Father, because he has done a lot for us,” he noted.

The Chiclayo region is known for the warmth of its people and the unmistakable flavor of duck and rice, ceviche (seafood) with corn tortilla, dried kid goat meat, and other typical dishes.

Prevost’s years in this northern Peruvian enclave — where he lived for more than 18 years — were like a balm in turbulent times, Delgado said. Prevost’s pastoral work coincided with particularly difficult times for the region. In 2017, intense flooding caused by the El Niño phenomenon hit Chiclayo hard, and Prevost didn’t hesitate to go out to bring food to the hardest-hit areas. Years later, the COVID-19 pandemic also struck Peru hard, leaving thousands dead due to lack of medical oxygen and a severely impacted economy.

“We were in lockdown for two years, and it was a huge problem for the school; many families lost their jobs,” he said. If it weren’t for the diocese’s financial support, he said, they would have had to close the school and let go of a large part of the teaching and support staff.

“No one was let go at that time. Everyone kept their jobs; some simply had their salaries reduced because they were working fewer hours,” Delgado explained.

The school administrator described Pope Leo XIV as “a very intellectual person with an extensive education” who always cared about the plight of the most vulnerable.

At this school, with 1,100 students at all three educational levels, scholarships are awarded to low-income families. “He was always concerned that poor families could have access to education. He was even the one who often called the director general to present specific cases so they could benefit from financial aid,” he said.

This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA.

Edinson Delgado worked closely with then-Bishop Robert Francis Prevost. / Credit: Victoria Isabel Cardiel/EWTN News

Vatican City, May 28, 2025 / 06:00 am (CNA).

The city of Chiclayo in Peru erupted with excitement when the news broke that American missionary Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost Martínez, who pastored their diocese from 2015 to 2023, had been elected as the new successor to St. Peter.

“There was tremendous excitement. We all cheered upon learning that he was now going to be our highest authority in the Catholic Church,” recalled Edinson Delgado, administrator of St. Turibius of Mogrovejo diocesan Catholic school in Chiclayo.

There are several Catholic schools in Chiclayo, most of them run by religious congregations. However, Delgado’s is the only one that reports directly to the diocese, which allowed Delgado, as school administrator, to maintain close and frequent contact with Prevost — now Pope Leo XIV. He thus knows firsthand what his main concerns were.

“He was always very attentive to families, to their formation and their integration into society as a fundamental nucleus. I believe that what he will seek as pope is a Church in Christ, the unity of all, and the promotion of the fundamental role of the family,” Delgado told ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner, from the Eternal City.

Delgado didn’t hesitate to pack his bags and travel to Rome to attend the inaugural Mass of  Pope Leo XIV’s pontificate celebrated in St. Peter’s Square. On May 19, he and his delegation were warmly received by the pontiff at the Vatican.

“We traveled with a delegation of 60 people from Chiclayo, including city officials, laypeople, consecrated persons, religious, and priests. It was a unique and special moment, and we wanted to express our gratitude, appreciation, and closeness to the Holy Father, because he has done a lot for us,” he noted.

The Chiclayo region is known for the warmth of its people and the unmistakable flavor of duck and rice, ceviche (seafood) with corn tortilla, dried kid goat meat, and other typical dishes.

Prevost’s years in this northern Peruvian enclave — where he lived for more than 18 years — were like a balm in turbulent times, Delgado said. Prevost’s pastoral work coincided with particularly difficult times for the region. In 2017, intense flooding caused by the El Niño phenomenon hit Chiclayo hard, and Prevost didn’t hesitate to go out to bring food to the hardest-hit areas. Years later, the COVID-19 pandemic also struck Peru hard, leaving thousands dead due to lack of medical oxygen and a severely impacted economy.

“We were in lockdown for two years, and it was a huge problem for the school; many families lost their jobs,” he said. If it weren’t for the diocese’s financial support, he said, they would have had to close the school and let go of a large part of the teaching and support staff.

“No one was let go at that time. Everyone kept their jobs; some simply had their salaries reduced because they were working fewer hours,” Delgado explained.

The school administrator described Pope Leo XIV as “a very intellectual person with an extensive education” who always cared about the plight of the most vulnerable.

At this school, with 1,100 students at all three educational levels, scholarships are awarded to low-income families. “He was always concerned that poor families could have access to education. He was even the one who often called the director general to present specific cases so they could benefit from financial aid,” he said.

This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA.