Pope Leo XIV arrived in Peru Wednesday, starting a nostalgic return to the nation where he spent two decades as a missionary before being tapped to lead the world's 1.4 billion Catholics.

The 71-year-old pontiff landed in Lima, according to an AFP reporter aboard the papal plane, on the final leg of an arduous 12 day Latin American tour, and just weeks after undergoing surgery for lung cancer.

"He is coming home" said 32-year-old street vendor Alexander Torres in the Peruvian capital. "He will be welcomed as if he never left the country."

The faithful lined the streets dozens-deep along the route, as phalanxes of soldiers in red and green berets stood guard.

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