Pope Leo XIV arrived in the Andes Mountains of Peru on Sunday for the final leg of his South American tour.
The pontiff, who served in Peru for 20 years, was expected to spotlight Indigenous rights and Amazon protection during his remaining engagements.
Leo arrived on Sunday in Cusco, the former capital of the Inca Empire that sits at an altitude of 3,400 meters (more than 11,000 feet).
Peruvian Cardinal Pedro Barreto told the Associated Press that "Leo is clearing the path laid out" by his predecessor, Pope France, on environmental protection and human rights.
Next, we will travel to Pucallpa, a city in the Amazon that faces joint threats from deforestation and illegal mining.
"For us, the pope's arrival is a source of great joy, but it is also a great opportunity to make our demands, our grievances, and our problems heard," said Cecilio Soria, an Indigenous human rights activist.
Earlier, on Saturday, Leo held an open-air Mass in town of Santa Cruz de Succhabamba.
He spoke with pleasure of returning to the "steep hills, ravines and fertile valleys, in a land with Andean roots, where the Inca Empire flourished and which is the cradle of a profound Christian faith."
Leo also visited the city of Zana, some 45 kilometers (28 miles) southeast, which is a major center of…