Chiclayo Celebrates Pope Leo XIV with Traditional Dances and Festivities

The tribute to Pope Leo XIV in Chiclayo, the Peruvian city where he served as bishop for nearly eight years, began late Saturday evening with a procession of altar servers and priests. The event extended well into the early hours of the morning, concluding with dancers dressed as devils performing on the steps of his former church.

Between the procession’s start and finish, the celebration included a Mass, Holy Communion, numerous hymns, performances by a student band and choir, fireworks, and a musical act by one of the priests—hailed by attendees as a rock star in a white cassock—accompanied by repeated chants praising the “Pope from Chiclayo.”

Located in northern Peru, Chiclayo is the country’s fifth-largest city and was home to the pope from 2014 until 2023. Locals remember him for his extensive travels through the region’s mountains and coastlines, often by car or horseback, and for his compelling sermons delivered in fluent Spanish.

To honor him, hundreds gathered in the lush plaza before the city’s grand yellow-hued cathedral. The crowd included nuns dressed in white habits and groups of parishioners wearing coordinated vests. Two large banners depicting a smiling Pope Leo flanked the cathedral’s entrance.

The festivities culminated with dancers performing the traditional 'Dance of the Little Devils of Túcume,' a nearby district. Fireworks erupted from the headdress of the lead devil figure, who engaged in a symbolic battle with an angel. Attendees explained that the dance represents the struggle between good and evil.

During the religious portion of the event, tambourines resonated as Edinson Farfán, the new bishop of Chiclayo, addressed the crowd.

He described the pope as “a shepherd with the scent of his sheep,” a phrase frequently used in Chiclayo recently to highlight Pope Leo’s close connection with his congregation.

“Pope Leo XIV taught us to live the Gospel through closeness to the poor, the vulnerable, those who suffer, migrants, and refugees,” Farfán said. “He is a man deeply committed to social justice.”

Chiclayo has rarely experienced such a prominent connection, and in recent days the city has been glowing with enthusiasm. New street signs proclaim “Welcome to Chiclayo, City of Pope Leo XIV.” Restaurants are featuring dishes favored by the pope; one near the cathedral advertised, “Happy Mother’s Day! Today’s special: Chiclayo-style goat, Pope Leo XIV’s favorite dish. Welcome!”

Over the weekend, the regional tourism board arranged a papal tour for media representatives, highlighting key locations from the former bishop’s time in Chiclayo.

Chiclayo was already a deeply religious city before the pope’s arrival in 2014 and remains so today. On Sundays, eight separate Masses are held in the main cathedral, each attended by hundreds, according to Father Jorge Millán, a local priest close to the pope. The pope’s influence encouraged the faithful to extend their devotion beyond church walls and engage actively in social work.

During the Saturday ceremony, Bishop Farfán remarked that, while serving as bishop, the city “accompanied Pope Leo XIV on his pilgrimage so that now he may accompany and guide the universal Church—from Chiclayo, from Latin America, the continent of hope for the entire world.”

The crowd erupted in cheers: “Pope, friend, Chiclayo stands with you!”