Cusco, Peru, Nov 2026 : Popular devotion is much more than the preservation of religious customs and traditions; it is an expression of the living faith of a people and their search for God, Pope Leo XIV said on Sunday while addressing the faithful and representatives of popular devotion at the Saqsaywaman National Archaeological Park in Cusco, Peru.
Speaking during a gathering with the Quechua people, representatives of Indigenous communities and members of local rural communities, the Pope emphasised that religious festivals, pilgrimages and processions are not merely cultural events but powerful expressions of people's relationship with God.
“A religious festival, a pilgrimage or a procession, therefore, are not merely cultural expressions,” Pope Leo said. “Behind every image, song, promise and sign there is a community of hearts seeking God and a friendly voice that responds from heaven and draws near.”
The meeting took place on the penultimate day of the Pope's apostolic journey to South America, in the historic city of Cusco, located at an altitude of 3,399 metres in the Peruvian Andes. Once the capital of the Inca Empire, Cusco is today a UNESCO World Heritage Site, known for its unique blend of Inca heritage and Spanish colonial architecture, reflecting centuries of cultural and religious interaction.
The imposing Saqsaywaman archaeological complex, overlooking the city, provided the setting for the Pope's encounter with the Quechua people, other Indigenous communities and comunidades campesinas (rural farming communities). More than 70 per cent of the population in the region identifies as Indigenous, making the gathering an important occasion to recognise the contribution of local communities and their religious traditions.
God Draws Near Through the Culture of a People
Reflecting on the Gospel account of the Annunciation, Pope Leo XIV presented Mary as an example of faith nurtured within a family and community. He said that God came to meet Mary in the ordinary surroundings of her home in Nazareth, using familiar symbols, her own language and the cultural signs she understood.
“This is how God acts,” the Pope said, explaining that God seeks the most appropriate ways and moments to draw close to people so that they can encounter Him.
He described popular piety as one of the most beautiful expressions of this encounter. Through music, dance, religious images, pilgrimages and celebrations, people express the memories of their ancestors, the faith passed down through generations, their love for Christ and their devotion to Mary and the saints.
Recalling the teachings of Pope Francis, Leo XIV described popular piety as “a true expression of the spontaneous missionary activity of the people of God”. He stressed that traditional religious practices should not remain limited to cultural observances but should become opportunities to encounter Christ and proclaim the Gospel.
The Pope's message highlighted the importance of recognising popular devotion as a living expression of faith, particularly among Indigenous communities whose religious practices are closely connected with their cultural identity, history and collective memory.
Faith Unites Communities Rather Than Dividing Them
A central theme of Pope Leo's address was the ability of popular devotion to strengthen relationships and bring people together in a world increasingly marked by divisions, wounds and mistrust.
Referring to Mary's encounter with God, he observed that her faith did not isolate her from others. Instead, it made her the bearer of a gift intended for the benefit of all humanity.
“Faith does not separate; rather, it unites us to God and to one another,” he said.
The Pope explained that religious traditions can help communities overcome differences and rediscover their shared bonds. A procession can bring people with different views together, a pilgrimage can reunite entire families, and a religious celebration can strengthen the sense of belonging within a community.
He also pointed out that a feast dedicated to a patron saint can provide an opportunity for reconciliation, forgiveness and fresh beginnings.
Pope Leo encouraged the faithful to make religious celebrations “a school of fraternity and charity”, where people work, pray and rejoice together while extending care and support to those in need.
His message underlined the social significance of popular devotion, presenting it not only as an expression of religious belief but also as a means of promoting solidarity, mutual understanding and community harmony.
Passing on Living Religious Traditions to Younger Generations
The Pope also emphasised the importance of involving younger generations in popular devotion, saying that the future of these traditions depends not simply on preserving inherited practices but on passing them on as a living experience.
“Each generation receives a legacy and has the responsibility to pass it on enriched and renewed,” he said.
He encouraged communities to welcome the contributions of young people through listening, cooperation and, wherever necessary, adapting traditions to changing circumstances.
At the same time, he stressed the importance of preserving the Christian meaning of popular religious practices. Young people should be helped to understand the history of salvation, the lives of saints and the significance of religious celebrations. They should also be brought closer to the Word of God and the life of the Church.
The objective, he said, should be to transmit a living experience of Christian life, continually renewed around the altar, with the Eucharist remaining its centre and source.
Pope Entrusts Peru's Marian Devotion to Our Lady of Bethlehem
Highlighting the distinctive character of popular devotion in Peru, Pope Leo XIV spoke about its strong Marian dimension. He recalled the mosaic in the Vatican Gardens, which he had blessed the previous year, depicting the different titles under which Mary accompanies the Peruvian people, shares their joys and sorrows, and teaches them to remain hopeful.
He said that every form of devotion finds its true meaning when it brings people together around Jesus and, by following His footsteps, leads them towards heaven.
At the conclusion of the gathering, Pope Leo entrusted the renewal of popular devotion to Our Lady of Bethlehem, the Mother and Protector of Cusco. He presented her with the Golden Rose and prayed that Mary would grant peace to the land, strengthen those who suffer and give everyone the grace to walk together in the love of her Son.
Pope Recalls His Pastoral Ministry in Peru
Earlier, the fourth day of Pope Leo XIV's Apostolic Journey to Peru began at St. Mary's Cathedral, where he had begun his ministry as Bishop of Chiclayo in 2015.
During the ceremony to crown the image of the diocese's patroness, the Pope recalled his experiences of learning to be a shepherd among the people of Chiclayo. Entrusting his life and ministry as the Successor of Peter to Mary, he prayed: “To your Immaculate Heart I entrust today my life and my ministry as Successor of Peter.”
He subsequently travelled by air to Santa Cruz de Succhabamba, where he prayed before the locally venerated image of the Señor del Costado at the Parish of the Immaculate Conception.
Addressing the faithful, the Pope assured people suffering from illness of the Church's closeness and asked them to pray for him and for everyone in need of God's help.
Calls for Justice, Dignified Employment and Care for the Marginalised
During Mass, Pope Leo acknowledged the long journeys undertaken by thousands of Catholics from rural Andean communities to participate in the celebrations. He also expressed gratitude to catechists and laypeople who continue to serve local communities, particularly in areas where priests are scarce.
Drawing on the Gospel parable of the persistent widow, the Pope urged the Church and society to listen to people whose appeals for justice remain unanswered.
He called for continued prayer and patient action against injustice and praised those working to create opportunities for dignified employment.
The Pope's message highlighted the need for faith to translate into practical concern for the vulnerable and for communities facing social and economic challenges.
Pope Urges Families to Continue Passing on the Faith
Pope Leo XIV concluded the day at the Shrine of Saint Turibius of Mogrovejo in Zaña, where he listened to testimonies during a prayer gathering marking 300 years since the saint's canonisation.
Expressing gratitude to the people for what they had taught him during his time as their bishop, the Pope encouraged families to continue nurturing and transmitting Christian faith across generations.
“Dear parents and grandparents, continue to pass on the faith to your children and grandchildren,” he said.
Through his engagements in Cusco and other parts of Peru, Pope Leo XIV highlighted the importance of popular devotion, Indigenous religious traditions, community solidarity and the role of families in preserving Christian faith. His message called on the faithful to ensure that religious customs remain meaningful expressions of a living relationship with God while promoting fraternity, reconciliation, justice and service to others.
(Disclaimer :The content of this article is sourced from a news agency and has not been edited by the Mavericknews30 team.)
