STEVE INSKEEP, HOST:
Pope Leo travels to Peru later today - part of his Latin American tour. He's finishing a visit to Argentina, which is a big deal there. The previous pope was from Argentina but never was able to visit after his elevation. NPR's Carrie Kahn reports.
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UNIDENTIFIED PERSON: (Speaking Spanish).
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CARRIE KAHN, BYLINE: Hundreds of thousands turned out in the central Argentine city of Cordoba to greet Pope Leo, who received great applause when citing his mentor, Pope Francis.
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POPE LEO XIV: (Speaking Spanish).
KAHN: "My dear predecessor said this clearly. In the fight against injustice, the spiritual cannot be overlooked," he said. Since arriving in Argentina on Sunday, Leo has challenged the austerity programs of Argentina's libertarian president. Yesterday's message, however, was more religious. "While hunger, unemployment and poor housing deserve a response," he said, "the church cannot be merely an aid group."
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LEO XIV: (Speaking Spanish).
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KAHN: "A church without Jesus is a dead church," he said. After a final mass this morning, the pope heads to what he has called a homecoming - Peru. Leo spent decades there, first as a missionary and later as the archbishop of the northern city of Chiclayo.
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KAHN: A wall off the dusty coastal city's main square is getting a fresh coat of paint ahead of Pope Leo's arrival Friday. Banners and cardboard cutouts of a broadly smiling Pope Leo seem to be everywhere, selling everything from hamburgers to instant coffee to regional sweets.
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KAHN: Kayla Paredes (ph) has been doing a brisk business selling pope cookies at her nearby candy shop.
KAYLA PAREDES: (Speaking Spanish).
KAHN: "It's an alfajor filled with dulce de leche in the image of our Most Holy Father," she says.
CARMELO PRADA: (Speaking Spanish).
KAHN: "The pope is nearly here," says 80-year-old Carmelo Prada (ph), sitting on the steps of Chiclayo's bright-yellow cathedral, selling pope hats and bags. "This humble humanitarian is heading home," says Prada, "and we're filled with joy."
Carrie Kahn, NPR News, Chiclayo, Peru.
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