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.

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“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.

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