As a member of the international community in Angers, France, since 2020, Sister Nancy Pereyra, who is originally from Peru, where she was able to meet the new pope, Leo XIV. She was recently asked to introduce him to us through her eyes by Le Mag, the quarterly magazine for the Province of Europe BFMN, which we share with you here.
At the start of the conclave, I thought the only Peruvian cardinal taking part was Monsignor Carlos Castillo, the current Cardinal of Lima. I didn’t know that Monsignor Robert Prevost had acquired Peruvian nationality in 2015—an unpublicized fact—or that in 2023 Pope Francis had summoned him to Rome to appoint him Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops and President of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America.
A Memory from 2015
Because of my work in the vocation ministry of my Peruvian province, I had the chance to meet Monsignor Prevost in Chiclayo and in Lima. I recall one moment in particular: it was 2015, on the feast of Corpus Christi—one of the most important religious celebrations in northern Peru, observed as a public holiday there but not elsewhere in the country—when one of our Notre‑Dame de Charité du Bon Pasteur communities joined a group of young people to take part in it. The event unfolded in the city’s football stadium. It was among the first pastoral activities Monsignor Prevost presided over as the new bishop. First came the procession, then the Mass, which concluded around midday. Afterwards, the parish groups gathered to share a meal, setting everything up themselves. During that time, Monsignor Prevost circulated among them, greeting everyone and thanking them for their participation in the diocesan celebration. It was easy to pick out those who had traveled from the most remote villages. He was especially concerned to know how they had made the journey, whether they could afford food, and if there was any way he could help—because he understood their reality.
Authenticity and Simplicity
From my own experience, I’ve encountered very few bishops who make themselves genuinely available to meet and listen to the poor. I believe his missionary experience in remote communities—where life is lived with authenticity and simplicity, without excessive formalism—was decisive in shaping his vocation. I trust he will continue the path begun by Pope Francis, because he truly knows the realities of the poor, their human and spiritual needs, and those on society’s margins. He will carry them with him in memory and in his heart as a disciple of Jesus.
I hope that with his help we can build bridges of peace—so urgently needed in these times of ongoing conflict— “an unarmed and disarming peace. A humble peace from God, who loves us all unconditionally,” as he said in his inaugural address.
Have you a story about your encounter with our new Pope Leo XIV that you would like to share?
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