Peru
Peru’s government has declared the whole country the “Land of Pope Leo XIV” in a Supreme Decree, a top-level government order, signed by President Keiko Fujimori. The honour comes as the first US-born pope, Robert Prevost of Chicago, is on his apostolic visit, an official papal trip, to Peru from Wednesday 11 to Monday 16 November 2026, which began when he landed in Lima.
The decree also gives the northern city of Chiclayo the title “Pueblo Fiel”, or Faithful People, because the Pope once served there as bishop. For readers abroad, it shows a government turning a papal visit into a national tribute.
Key Facts
—Decree. Supreme Decree No. 017-2026-JUS, from Peru’s Justice Ministry, names Peru “Tierra del Papa León XIV”.
—Chiclayo. The northern city in the Lambayeque region receives the honorary title “Pueblo Fiel”, meaning Faithful People.
—Basis. The decree cites more than 40 years of ties between Robert Prevost and the Peruvian people.
—Cost. The Justice Ministry must run its programmes within its own budget, and the decree adds no new money.
—As of. Saturday, 14 November 2026, 17:45 GMT
The decree is a tribute rather than a policy, adding a title and a task for the Justice Ministry. It comes as the Pope’s visit moves toward its final Mass in Lima.
What We Know
Supreme Decree No. 017-2026-JUS, issued by the Justice Ministry, declares the Republic of Peru “Tierra del Papa León XIV”, Spanish for Land of Pope Leo XIV. It does so “in homage and solemn testimony of the Nation’s gratitude” for “more than forty (40) years of pastoral, civic and community ties” between Robert Prevost and the Peruvian people.
The decree notes that he embraced Peruvian nationality in 2015. It adds that he has devoted his priestly, episcopal and apostolic ministry “especially to vulnerable populations”.
The text calls him “un ciudadano ilustre del mundo”, an illustrious citizen of the world. President Keiko Fujimori signed it with Luis Fernando Galarreta Velarde, President of the Council of Ministers (prime minister), and Ernesto Julio Álvarez Miranda, Minister of Justice and Human Rights.
In Plain English
—Supreme decree. A government order signed by the president and ministers.
—Pueblo Fiel. Spanish for Faithful People, the new honorary title for Chiclayo.
—Urbi et orbi. Latin for “to the city and the world”, the pope’s formal address.
—El Peruano. Peru’s official gazette, where state decrees are published.
Why Chiclayo Gets a Title
The decree grants Chiclayo, a city in the Lambayeque region of northern Peru, the honorary title “Pueblo Fiel”. It does so “in commemoration of having been the home, episcopal seat and community of life” of the Pope.
The decree says this ratifies a name the Pope himself gave the Diocese of Chiclayo. He used it in his first urbi et orbi address after he was elected the 267th pope on 8 May 2025.
The title joins the older honour “Heroica Ciudad de Chiclayo” (Heroic City of Chiclayo), granted by decree on 15 April 1835. Together they form the protocol name “Heroica Ciudad y Pueblo Fiel de Chiclayo”, the decree says.
Before his election, Robert Prevost served as bishop of Chiclayo. Our report on Friday’s Mass in Pimentel, near Chiclayo, covers that visit.
What the Justice Ministry Must Do
Article 6 of the decree tells the Justice Ministry to promote actions, forums and programmes, in coordination with competent entities. They are to spread the values of social solidarity, defence of vulnerable groups and civic fraternity that inspired his community work in Peru.
The decree says the ministry must do this “at the expense of their own institutional budgets”. Our report on how Peru funds the visit covers the separate cost of the trip itself.
Why It Matters
Chiclayo and the people of Lambayeque gain a formal title, and the Justice Ministry gains a mandate to run programmes on its existing budget. The decree, issued in November 2026, puts the Pope’s ties to Peru at more than 40 years.
For readers in the United States, Robert Prevost was born in Chicago and is the first US-born pope. The step is symbolism rather than policy, and as reported it changes no law.
The Pope’s Saturday in Peru
Today, Saturday 14 November, the Pope celebrates Mass in Santa Cruz de Succhabamba, in the Cajamarca region. He then returns to Chiclayo to close the jubilee year of Saint Turibius of Mogrovejo, a 16th-century archbishop of Lima.
Our report on the Santa Cruz Mass gives the start as 11:00 Peru time. That equals 11:00 a.m. US Eastern.
What to Watch Next
According to details El Peruano reported on 29 October 2026, the visit closes with a Mass on Monday 16 November at the Las Palmas Air Base in Surco, a district of Lima. It starts at 10:30 Peru time, or 10:30 a.m. US Eastern, and more than one million faithful are expected.
According to the same report, public entry opens from 22:00 on Sunday 15 November through 14 perimeter gates under the control of the National Police, Peru’s national police force. After a farewell ceremony at the Callao air base near Lima, the Pope’s plane leaves for Rome at 13:45 Peru time on Monday 16 November.
What It Means for You
The people of Chiclayo and the Lambayeque region receive the title, and the Justice Ministry receives the instruction to promote its values. Catholic readers in the United States may note that the first US-born pope is honoured by a country whose nationality he chose.
What Is Not Known
The decree was signed in Lima on Friday 13 November 2026 and published in the gazette on Saturday 14 November. Its text names no budget figure and no deadline for the Justice Ministry’s programmes.
As reported, the decree attaches no money, law changes or new rights, and it gives no budget figure. We found no named public critic of the decree.
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Peru declare?
Peru declared itself “Tierra del Papa León XIV”, or Land of Pope Leo XIV, in Supreme Decree No. 017-2026-JUS. The decree cites more than 40 years of ties between Robert Prevost and the Peruvian people.
What does Pueblo Fiel mean?
Pueblo Fiel means Faithful People. The decree gives Chiclayo the honorary title because the city was the Pope’s home and episcopal seat.
Does the decree create new spending?
The decree tells the Justice Ministry to promote its programmes at the expense of its own institutional budget. The text names no budget figure.
When does the Pope leave Peru?
According to El Peruano and the Vatican itinerary, his plane leaves for Rome at 13:45 Peru time on Monday 16 November. A farewell ceremony at the Callao air base comes first.
Sources: El Peruano, official gazette of Peru (Supreme Decree No. 017-2026-JUS), El Peruano report on the Las Palmas Mass, 29 October 2026.
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