EWTN will premiere a one-hour documentary titled “Pope Leo’s Peru” on May 1. Produced by EWTN News, the program will take an in-depth look at the years Pope Leo XIV served as a missionary in the South American country.
Jonathan Liddle, EWTN News correspondent and managing editor of the National Catholic Register, takes viewers in northern Peru for a look at the communities the Holy Father served. These cities included Chulucanas, where the then young priest had his first missionary experience; the city of Trujillo, where he grew up as a priest; and the Diocese of Chiclayo, where he served as bishop.
Through on-location reporting, interviews and local testimonies, the documentary highlights the impact of the Pope’s ministry among many parish communities and marginalized peoples and reflects the perspectives of the people who knew him best during those years.
“From Peruvians who knew Pope Leo, I have repeatedly heard the term that he was ‘amigo’ – a friend,” Liddle said in an interview. Press release. “From soup kitchen volunteers to cathedral rectors, former altar servers to fellow bishops, Pope Leo came close to everyone and listened to them, inspiring others more deeply to Christ in the process.”
The documentary also paints a portrait of a local church that helped create a global shepherd, providing context for Pope Leo XIV’s priorities as he leads the universal Church today.
Rodolfo Yápez Castro (right), who served for Pope Leo XIV in Chulucanas, Peru, 40 years ago, shares with EWTN News’s Jonathan Liddle his memories of the man he knew as “Padre Roberto.” | Credit: Edgardo Castañeda/EWTN News
“As we approach the one-year anniversary of Pope Leo XIV’s election, this special news helps us reflect on the experiences he brings to his papacy,” said Montes Alvarado, president of EWTN News. “From his emphasis on the poor to his focus on healing divided communities, it is clear how the good work he began in Peru is now leading us all from Rome. Understanding the heart of the Holy Father is the essence of this report.”
“Pope Leo’s Peru” will air May 1 at 8pm ET on EWTN and will be available EWTNNews.com and EWTN News YouTube channel.
