From Andean Trails to Papal Balconies

Pope Leo XIV’s early years in the Peruvian highlands—trekking Andean trails with a backpack full of gospels—instilled in him a vision of universal solidarity. He recounts sleeping under quinoa fields, sharing bread with Quechua villagers, and learning that compassion transcends language. Now, from the balcony of St. Peter’s, he greets pilgrims with the same warmth he offered campesinos. Development economists credit his “Highland to Holy City” program with a 40 percent increase in microloan projects across Latin America. His homilies draw vivid analogies: “Just as we climb mountains step by step, so too do we ascend toward divine communion.” Leo XIV’s Andean roots continue to echo in every pastoral outreach, reminding the world that the path to salvation often begins on dusty mountain roads.