VERO BEACH — Before he was Pope Leo XIV, Robert Francis Prevost was Bishop of Chiclayo, Peru, from 2015 to 2023, where a Vero Beach woman attended many Masses he officiated.
Although Vera Pajares said she never had the opportunity to talk to him, she remembers him as a very kind person.
“His speeches were full of positivity,” she said.
Pajares lived in Chiclayo until 2001 and has since gone back multiple times to visit family. She said she was raised Catholic, so while she was home in Peru, she would go with her parents to attend Mass officiated by then-Bishop Robert Prevost.
The people of Chiclayo, herself included, are proud of him living in Peru for so long.
“I was in the car with my husband, and we were talking about him and that it would be great if it happened and then suddenly he became the Pope,” Pajares said. “It was very impressive and very exciting.”
Pope Leo XIV was appointed Bishop of Chiclayo, Peru, on Sept. 26, 2015. He officiated Mass and visited schools, universities, and other institutions. Pope Francis promoted him to Archbishop on Jan. 30, 2023, and later that year, to Cardinal on Sept. 30, which he took possession of on Jan. 28, 2024, according to Vatican News.
The papal conclave began on May 7, following the death of Pope Francis on April 21. There were 133 voting Cardinals, tucked away in the Sistine Chapel, who made history by electing the first American-born pontiff in Prevost.
Prevost, 69, originally from Chicago, has spent most of his career as a missionary in Peru and has dual Peruvian-United States citizenship. During his time as a missionary in Peru, he reached a multitude of people, including Pajares.
She said he was helpful during hard times, such as during the COVID-19 pandemic, by getting oxygen for people; or during a bad flood, actively working to remove mud from people’s houses.
She remembered he did not want to be driven around and chose to walk everywhere or drive his own car.
“I’ve heard he is very in contact with people,” Pajares said. “My mom sent me tons of pictures of him with the community and he was always part of the community activities.”
Olivia Franklin is a breaking news reporter for TCPalm. Follow Olivia on X @Livvvvv_5 or reach her by phone at 317-627-8048. E-mail her at olivia.franklin@tcpalm.com.
This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Vero Beach woman attended Mass officiated by Pope Leo XIV when he was a Bishop in Peru
Reporting by Olivia Franklin, Treasure Coast Newspapers / Treasure Coast Newspapers
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