Pope prays tribute to St. Turibius, recalls night spent in prayer before installation as bishop

November 15, 2026

Pope Leo XIV visited the Shrine of St. Turibius of Mogrovejo in the small Peruvian town of Zaña last evening and, in the presence of a crowd of over 300,000, closed the jubilee year marking the 300th anniversary of the saint’s canonization (video).

Zaña, the city in which St. Turibius died, is the site of his empty tomb; his relics were translated to the Peruvian capital of Lima. Zaña is located 30 miles from Chiclayo, the see of the diocese that Pope Leo led from 2014 to 2023, first as apostolic administrator, and then as bishop.

“As I made my way here, so many memories returned to me from the years when the Lord entrusted me with the care of this beloved diocese,” Pope Leo said. “One which remains especially dear to me is the night before I began my ministry as Bishop of Chiclayo. I remember spending that night in prayer, asking the Lord, through the intercession of Saint Turibius, to grant me the grace to be a shepherd after his own heart. At the time, I did not know all that lay ahead of me or how much I would receive from you.”

“Saint Turibius was a shepherd who had first allowed the Gospel to shape his very existence,” the Pope continued. “How wonderful it would be if the same could be said of each one of us!”

“Dear priests, nourish your friendship with Jesus Christ each day, celebrate the sacraments with love and reverence, and always remain close to the people entrusted to your care,” he added. “Dear parents and grandparents, continue to pass on the faith to your children and grandchildren. And you, young people, open your hearts to the Lord, who knows you and has a beautiful vocation for each of you. Let us allow his word to transform our lives and teach us to love as he loves us.”

Zaña was also a center of slavery in colonial Peru. The Pontiff said:

Zaña also preserves the memory of generations of Africans who were torn from their homes and subjected to slavery. Many endured great suffering and humiliation.

Dear brothers and sisters of African descent, today I want to express my affection and closeness to you. I have had the joy of coming to know your faith, your traditions and the love with which you preserve the memory of your ancestors. Thank you for all that you contribute to the life of this Church. May the example of Saint Martin de Porres, on whom Saint Turibius himself conferred the Sacrament of Confirmation, remind you how deeply God loves you and encourage you to persevere on the path to holiness.

 

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Further information:

• Apostolic Journey to Peru: Prayer Meeting with the Catholic Community on the Occasion of the Closing of the Jubilee Year of Saint Toribio de Mogrovejo (Dicastery for Communication - Vatican Media, 11/14/26)
• Prayer Meeting with the Catholic Community on the occasion of the Closing of the “Jubilee Year of Saint Turibius of Mogrovejo” in the Shrine of Saint Turibius of Mogrovejo (Holy See Press Office, 11/14/26)
• Pope Leo in Zaña: Continue passing on the faith to your children (Vatican Radio, 11/15/26)