Look to Christ, who conducts the ‘great symphony of communion,’ Pope tells Peru’s clergy, religious

November 13, 2026

Pope Leo XIV celebrated the Liturgy of the Hours in the Cathedral Basilica of Lima on November 12 and encouraged Peru’s clergy, religious, seminarians, synodal teams, and pastoral councils to look to Christ as the “one foundation on which to build our temple of living stones.”

Two agencies of the Vatican’s Dicastery for Communication issued differing reports on which liturgical hour the Pontiff celebrated at 10:20 AM in the cathedral. Vatican Media reported that Pope Leo celebrated Terce (Midmorning Prayer); the Holy See Press Office reported that he celebrated Sext (Midday Prayer). The Pontiff preached on 1 John 3:23-24, the reading for Terce.

“I would like us to reflect together on certain attitudes that are important for being the Church and for building a civilization of love truly grounded on the common good,” Pope Leo preached. “The first idea it offers us is the invitation to believe ‘in the name of his Son Jesus Christ’ (v. 23), that is, to look to him as the one foundation on which to build our temple of living stones. Christ is the Light, the Word and the Bread, and the Church grows wherever people live united with one another through communion with him.”

“The second value I would like to recall is reconciliation,” the Pope continued. “Peru has great need of this. It needs a Church that sows love, capable of building bridges where others raise walls, capable of listening, healing and forgiving and, at the same time, ready to acknowledge its own infidelities and humbly ask forgiveness, accepting responsibility for the wounds it has caused both within the community and around it.”

After reflecting on peacemaking, communion, and mission, Pope Leo concluded:

Dear brothers and sisters, let us all unite, today and always, in the great symphony of communion whose conductor is Christ. Let us sing of the Father’s love as we advance together, with hearts united and open to grace, and faithful to the commandment we have received: “that we should believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another” (1 Jn 3:23). May this indeed be so, through the grace of the Holy Spirit and the intercession of Mary, our Mother.

 

---

For all current news, visit our News home page.

---

 
Further information:

• Apostolic Journey to Peru: Celebration of Mid-Morning Prayer with the Bishops, Priests, Men and Women Religious, Seminarians, Synodal Teams and Pastoral Councils (Dicastery for Communication - Vatican Media, 11/12/26)
• Celebration of the Midday Prayer with Bishops, Priests, Consecrated Men and Women, Seminarians, Synodal Teams and Pastoral Councils in the Basilica Cathedral of Saint John the Apostle and Evangelist (Holy See Press Office, 11/12/26)
• Pope Leo encourages the Church in Peru to continue to spread the Gospel (Vatican News, 11/12/26)