Chiclayo, Peru — A long way from the south side of Chicago to the heart of Chiclayo in northern Peru.

But it was a simple phrase, which was spoken in the Vatican on the balcony The first American popeThat’s what Chiclayo turned into a sensation.

“Greetings to everyone, and especially to my beloved Diocese of Chiclayo, in Peru, where the faithful people followed their bishop, shared their faith and gave so much, so much, so that he continued to be a faithful Church of Jesus Christ.” said from the Basilica Basilica of St. Peter on May 8th. After being chosen from the cardinal voters in the Pope’s enclave to inherit Pope Francis.

Leo, originally from Chicago WHO He turned 70 on SundayHe is also Peru’s citizen, where he has served more than two decades, first as a missionary. He then led the Augustine Seminary in Trujill, and in 2014 he was appointed an Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Chiclayo. In 2015, he became a bishop in Chiclay and became a cardinal there in 2023.

Rev. Fidel Purisac Vigil, a spokesman for the Diocese of Chiclayo, recalls the local reaction to Leo’s statement on the balcony.

“Some were crying, we laughed and remembered all those gracious moments he spent with us here in Chiclay,” Purisian told CBS News.

That day in early May, when the Cardinal Robert Prevost was then succeeded in the throne of St. Peter, and Chiclayo was abolished, becoming a current tourist attraction.

City officials said the Leo elections touched the pilgrimage here by Catholics from all over the world.

It was also a blessing for the economy. The tourism he brought could give Chiclay the estimated annual incentive of $ 40 million, said city officials.

Restaurants, hotels and tourist companies are trying to settle for demand.

“Indeed, we will have a lot of work to do with everyone, with hotels, tour operators, restaurants, with tourist guides,” said Maria Isabel Espinal, who runs a local travel agency, told the CBS News.

Like the Cross Station, tourists are pulling Leo’s steps here, walking from church to church along its unique path to the papacy.

They even stopped at his favorite lunch site, served by no other than Leo’s favorite waiter, Carlos.

“The pope would sit here,” Carlos showed CBS News, who added that he prayed every day for his old friend, New Pope.