Background on the Figure Involved: Pope Leon XIV (Robert Prevost)
Pope Leon XIV, whose birth name is Robert Prevost, has a significant connection to Peru. He first visited the country in 1985 as a missionary to a small village. In 2015, after being appointed as the bishop of Chiclayo, a northern city, he obtained Peruvian citizenship. Prevost served as the bishop of Chiclayo until 2023.
The Eten Miracle and Peru’s New Legislation
According to Catholic tradition in Peru, a miracle occurred in Eten (a region in northern Peru) in 1649. During a religious ceremony, the “Infant Jesus” allegedly appeared on a consecrated host. This event has been commemorated locally as the “Eucaristic Miracle of Eten.”
In 2019, then-Obispo Robert Prevost presented Pope Francis with a project to recognize this miracle, supported by historical accounts and testimonies of faith from thousands of people in the Chiclayo diocese.
Peru’s Recent Efforts
On Saturday, Peru passed a law to request that the Vatican acknowledge Eten as a “Eucharistic City.” The legislation was signed by President Dina Boluarte, who will attend Pope Leon XIV’s enthronement ceremony on Sunday. Peru, predominantly Catholic, celebrated the election of Pope Leon XIV.
The Impact and Future Steps
The law, now endorsed by Boluarte, aims to promote Eten’s customs and local tourism through a formal agreement between the Vatican and Peru. The Peruvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs is working to secure an audience between Boluarte and Pope Leon XIV at the Vatican, though specifics remain undisclosed.
Key Questions and Answers
- Who is Pope Leon XIV? Born Robert Prevost, he served as the bishop of Chiclayo in Peru from 2015 to 2023 before being elected as pope.
- What is the Eten Miracle? According to local Catholic tradition, in 1649, the “Infant Jesus” allegedly appeared on a consecrated host during a religious ceremony in Eten, northern Peru.
- What is the purpose of Peru’s new legislation? The law seeks to have Eten recognized as a “Eucharistic City” by the Vatican, promoting local customs and tourism.
- What are Peru’s future steps? The government aims to secure an audience between President Dina Boluarte and Pope Leon XIV at the Vatican to discuss the recognition of the Eten Miracle.
