Pope Leo XIV denounced the culture of "machismo" and violence against women in Peru, calling for the protection and respect of women as he began his official duties in his home country. Speaking in Lima's Plaza Mayor, the pontiff addressed a crowd of approximately 40,000 people, urging the Catholic hierarchy to model unity and respond with truth and justice to victims of clergy sexual abuse.
The visit marks Pope Leo's return to Peru, where he served as a missionary priest and bishop for two decades before his election in 2025. Despite undergoing lung cancer surgery last month, the 71-year-old pope appeared energetic, singing national anthems and engaging with Peruvian bishops and citizens. His remarks focused on social challenges, including gender-based violence and the need for a more inclusive church leadership.
What the Right Is Saying
Conservative commentators and traditionalist Catholics highlighted Pope Leo's call for the bishops to be models of "unity and communion" within the church. They viewed his instruction to accompany their flocks and maintain doctrinal fidelity as a reaffirmation of traditional ecclesiastical structures. The pope's reference to St. Turibius de Mogrovejo, the first archbishop of Lima, was seen by some as a signal to return to a model of episcopal leadership that is present, accessible, and rooted in historical church authority.
Supporters noted Pope Leo's personal warmth and his ability to connect with the faithful, citing his enthusiasm for Peruvian culture and national symbols as evidence of a stable and comforting leadership style. Some observers pointed to his comments on the church's role in defending the rights of Indigenous and enslaved peoples as a continuation of the church's traditional social mission, rather than a political radicalization. The pope's lighthearted demeanor, including his jokes about "doubting Thomases" regarding his health, was interpreted by supporters as a sign of spiritual confidence and resilience.
What the Left Is Saying
Progressive voices and women's rights advocates in Peru welcomed the pope's explicit condemnation of "machismo," viewing it as a necessary moral intervention in a society grappling with high rates of gender-based violence. Nicole Cruz, a woman present in the Plaza Mayor, stated that while progress has been made in women's suffrage and visibility, femicides remain a rising concern. She expressed hope that Pope Leo's words would help unite women and encourage men to listen rather than dismiss complaints as mere grievances.
Cardinal Pedro Barreto, president of the Amazonian bishops conference, emphasized that Pope Leo is acutely attuned to the needs of Indigenous peoples and the poor. Barreto noted that the pope is expected to address specific cases of abuse, such as the recent incident in Condorcanqui involving the sexual abuse of Indigenous Awajún and Wampis girls. Advocates argue that Leo's background in Chiclayo and his focus on social vulnerability align with a progressive interpretation of Catholic social teaching, prioritizing justice for the marginalized.
What the Numbers Show
According to Peru's National Institute of Statistics and Informatics (INEI), the country recorded 1,261 femicide victims between 2016 and 2024. During this period, the number of women killed because of their gender rose by 44%, indicating an escalating crisis in gender-based violence. The data highlights that poor, Indigenous, and Afro-Peruvian women are disproportionately affected, a point explicitly raised by Pope Leo in his speech.
The online database BishopAccountability has identified 77 priests, brothers, seminarians, and lay consecrated individuals in Peru who have been publicly accused of sexually abusing minors. The organization notes that this figure likely represents only a "small fraction" of the total incidents, given the cultural influence of the Catholic Church in Peru and the tendency for victims to remain silent. Pope Leo served as the Peruvian bishops' point-person for welcoming victims during his time as the bishop of Chiclayo, and survivors groups had planned protests during his visit to highlight these unresolved cases.
The Bottom Line
Pope Leo's visit signals a potential shift in how the Peruvian Catholic hierarchy addresses both social violence and internal church crises. By directly naming "machismo" and linking it to Christian teachings on human dignity, the pope has placed pressure on local bishops to implement concrete protections for women and accountability for clergy. The next phase of his trip, which includes meetings with abuse survivors and visits to rural areas, will be critical in determining whether his rhetoric translates into actionable policy changes within the church and broader Peruvian society.