The Pope visited St. Turibius of Mogrovejo Catholic University, where he served as grand chancellor as bishop of Chiclayo, on Friday, reminding students that faith is ‘a torch in the confusion.’
CHICLAYO, Peru — Pope Leo XIV arrived at St. Turibius of Mogrovejo Catholic University, where he served as grand chancellor as bishop of Chiclayo, late Friday afternoon in Peru. He crossed the campus in a small electric “mini popemobile” to an esplanade where, according to Agencia Andina, about 9,000 students from 18 universities greeted him with chants of “Leo, brother, you are from Chiclayo.”
Bishop Edinson Farfán Córdova, his successor and the universityʼs current grand chancellor, said a Catholic university “is called to be a house where faith and reason meet.” Rector Patricia Campos recalled the white smoke of May 8, 2025, and told him: “This will always be his home, his people, his university.”
Words of Witnesses
Three witnesses spoke before the Pope at the university.
Law student Adriano Alonso Rafael Durand, 22, raised Protestant, described his conversion and receiving baptism, confirmation and first Communion in November 2025. At Corpus Christi he prayed, “How beautiful you are, Lord, I want to eat of your bread.”
María Guzmán spoke of her 20-year-old
