Ines San Martin

The pontiff urged young Catholics to become missionaries in today's world, including in digital spaces, and challenged them to be "the salt of the earth and the light of the world."

"This will be, without discussion, the most special flight of my life," Pablo Martínez Núñez said. He and the crew have some surprises planned for the prelate.

As Dec. 12 approaches, millions of pilgrims are converging on the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe, one of the most visited Marian shrines in the world. The feast honoring the Virgin of Guadalupe — celebrated across the Americas and in the Philippines — is again drawing crowds far beyond Mexico's borders.

"Bishop Prevost was never the kind of bishop who gave orders from behind a desk," said Janinna Sesa Córdova, who led Caritas Chiclayo from 2014 to 2024. "He was the face of Christ, the one who went out into the mud to help his people."

Francis' devotion to San Lorenzo de Almagro isn't just a nostalgic footnote — it's a window into the soul of a pope who knew what it meant to love fiercely, hope deeply and stay loyal — win or lose.