Pope Leo XIV’s Pro-life and Pro-family Legacy as Bishop in Peru Remembered

ACI Prensa Staff, 30 January, 2026 / 11:40 PM

The defense of life from conception, marriage defined as the union between one man and one woman, and the development of public policies in favor of the family were pillars of the pastoral ministry of Robert Prevost, now Pope Leo XIV, when he served as bishop of Chiclayo from 2015–2023, according to those who collaborated with him in northern Peru.

“He insisted that young people should understand that forming a family is a good thing and that they should prepare themselves for it,” Erika Valdivieso López told ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News.

Valdivieso is the academic vice rector of St. Ignatius of Loyola University and former director of the Institute of Sciences for Marriage and Family at St. Turibius of Mogrovejo Catholic University (USAT) in Chiclayo.

“He said that scientific research should also help strengthen public policies that benefit the family,” the university professor recalled.

Defender of life and human dignity

During his time as grand chancellor of USAT, Leo XIV supported the work of both the Family Institute and the Bioethics Institute. According to Valdivieso “he was very involved in everything that had to do with the defense of life and the recognition of the dignity of the person,” supporting research, publications, and pastoral initiatives.

His support was not merely symbolic. The academic recalled that the bishop, now pope, “was present even at small events, such as the inauguration of the first room for nursing mothers at the university or the presentation of the institute’s educational booklets.”

This support bore fruit in concrete initiatives that would later influence regional laws. Valdivieso said the work begun during that period helped lead to the recent passage of a law that incorporates a family-centered approach into public policies in Peru.

‘We cannot let ourselves be deceived’ about abortion

The defense of life was also a public and pastoral commitment of then-Bishop Prevost. On March 21, 2015, just a few months after assuming his role as bishop of Chiclayo, he actively participated in a march for life held in the city, where he delivered a clear and direct message.

“I wanted to come and walk with you for a while as a witness, not as my witness, but our witness as a Church, as brothers and sisters,” he said then.

In his address, Prevost warned against rhetoric that relativizes the value of human life, emphasizing that the defense of life should be understood as a community mission. “Many times we hear messages that try to convince us that it’s not abortion, that it’s simply helping the mom, but we cannot let ourselves be deceived, and we must defend human life at all times,” he affirmed.

The then-bishop insisted on the need for unity and perseverance in this cause, noting that defending life requires constant action. “We must continue fighting, walking, and marching so that there is respect for the rights of every human being,” he maintained.

His message concluded with an exhortation: “Let us walk together, united, to defend the right to life. Long live life!”

‘Marriage is between one man and one woman’ and no to abortion

On issues such as abortion or gender ideology, Valdivieso said Prevost was “very clear” and without doctrinal ambiguities. “He said that marriage is between one man and one woman, that life must be defended from the moment of conception, and that abortion should not be permitted or legalized.”

For Father Jorge Millán, head of the diocesan family pastoral office, Pope Leo XIV’s doctrinal firmness was combined with profound pastoral charity.

“What the Church says, that’s what he professed. In all aspects. On moral or marital issues, when doubts arose, I spoke with him and he clarified them for me spectacularly well,” he stated.

His contribution to new ethical challenges

Valdivieso said she believes the pope’s vision will not only address traditional debates but also emerging ethical challenges related to biotechnology, transhumanism, and genetic engineering.

“Now we talk about embryonic manipulation, cryopreservation, gametogenesis studies ... the scope for working in an apostolate defending life is much broader today,” she pointed out.

Regarding her expectations for the pontificate, she said: “I hope there will be the issuance of documents ... and doctrinal reinforcement. Because the Church has always contributed a great deal to these issues.”

Continuity with charity: ‘Let them come in and then teach’

Aware that Leo XIV assumes leadership of the Church in a divided world, Millán proposes a balanced approach to some of the pressures seeking doctrinal changes.

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“The errors that may exist in the Church are often not with bad intentions,” he said, “but rather the result of difficult pastoral circumstances.”

He said he believes the pope will know how to lead with clarity without breaking communion: “To arrive [in Rome as pope] and immediately say, ‘You’re wrong,’ would be a lack of charity.”

Millán summarized what he believes will be the style of the new pontificate: “Pope Francis opened the doors for everyone to enter. Now Leo XIV sits down with them and begins to tell them: This is the Gospel … I have let you in, I understand you, I empathize with you, but now listen to me.”

Both Valdivieso and Millán agreed that Leo XIV already demonstrated in Chiclayo how he understands the mission of the Church.

“He always advocated for supporting the family and establishing public policies that would strengthen it. I hope that this line of defense of life and care for marriage continues, because he has been very consistent throughout his pastoral life,” Valdivieso noted.

This story was first published by ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.