Pope Leo celebrates Mass in his former diocese of Chiclayo, Peru

Over a million people have gathered for Mass with Pope Leo XIV on Friday. The event in northern Peru, where he served as bishop before becoming head of the Catholic Church, is the centerpiece of his South American tour.

The Vatican estimates that roughly 1.5 million faithful braved scorching sun and heat of 31 degrees Celsius (87 degrees Fahrenheit) to attend. The event was the centerpiece of Leo's 12-day South American tour , throughout which an estimated 12 million people have turned out at stops in Uruguay and Argentina and now Peru.

Pope Leo , born Robert Prevost in Chicago, Illinois, had already referred to Peru, where he served as a missionary for some 20 years, as his homeland in remarks delivered on Wednesday. Leo, whom locals still refer to as "Padre Roberto" and "amigo," arrived from the capital Lima on Friday morning in a plane adorned with stickers reading "Leo XIV flies home." The leader of the Catholic Church 's 1.4 billion members will remain in Chiclayo until Sunday.