Pope Leo speaks of community 'suffering' on visit to remote Andes town
Pope Leo XIV visited the remote Andean town of Santa Cruz de Succhabamba in Peru, his former diocese. During the visit, he addressed the challenges of rural poverty, internal migration, and declining birth rates affecting the region.
Why it matters
The visit highlights the Vatican's ongoing focus on the socio-economic struggles of isolated communities and the impact of migration on rural populations.
Figure caption, Watch: People cheer as Pope Leo returns to remote Andes town in former diocese
On a visit to an isolated Andean village in his former diocese, Pope Leo XIV has spoken about the "suffering of those who are forced to leave their homeland in search of a better future", which he said had left communities under threat.
About 6,000 people live in Santa Cruz de Succhabamba, which is located in a remote part of the Andes mountains in northern Peru, but the Pope's visit drew a crowd of about 20,000, according to the Vatican.
At an outdoor Mass, Pope Leo spoke of "declining birth rates that are emptying villages," and the unequal distribution of the land's resources.
Over 40% of the population in the Cajamarca region, where the town is located, live in poverty - the highest figure in Peru, according to official data.
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