Peru is preparing to welcome Pope Leo XIV with a hymn honoring Catholic nun Maria Agustina Rivas, known as "Aguchita", who was killed by Maoist insurgents in 1990. The song, titled "Leon, Hermano del Camino" or "Leo, Brother on the Journey", will be performed by the Aguchita youth choir during Pope Leo's visit to Peru from November 11-16. Approximately 69,000 people died or went missing between 1980 and 2000 due to a brutal conflict between security forces and Shining Path guerrillas, which "Aguchita" confronted in her humanitarian work. The hymn was composed by Jaime Montoya and won a national competition to symbolize unity ahead of the Pope's visit.
Written by the local model on 2026-08-25,
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Story summary
In November, Peru will welcome *Pope Leo XIV* with a special hymn honoring a Catholic nun who was killed by *Shining Path rebels* in 1990. The hymn, titled "*Leon, Hermano del Camino*" or "*Leo, Brother on the Journey*", features *Andean rhythms* and is performed by members of the *Aguchita youth choir*, named after Peruvian missionary *Maria Agustina Rivas*. Rivas was killed while carrying out humanitarian work in Peru's remote Amazon jungle region, and she was later beatiified by the Vatican in 2022. The song's composer, *Jaime Montoya*, was inspired to write the hymn because he saw a connection between the missionary's sacrifice and Pope Leo's life of service. One of the lead singers, *Keverly Escobar* (27), expressed her pride at being part of the choir honoring a Peruvian saint who gave "her life for the most humble."
Written for “Pope's Visit to Peru” on 2026-08-31,
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Leaning score +0.15 for article 2285 (high confidence, 1 verified quote) · logged 2026-08-27
Peru to welcome Pope Leo with hymn honoring slain nun
LIMA, Aug 25 - Peru will welcome Pope Leo XIV in November with a hymn in honor of a Catholic nun killed by Maoist insurgents, celebrating the pontiff's return to the country where he worked for decades as a missionary.
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he → welcome → missionary
The song, featuring Andean rhythms and titled "Leon, Hermano del Camino" or "Leo, Brother on the Journey", will be performed by members of the Aguchita youth choir, named after Peruvian missionary Maria Agustina Rivas.
Rivas was killed by Shining Path rebels in 1990 while carrying out humanitarian work in Peru's remote Amazon jungle region.
Known as "Aguchita," she was beatified by the Vatican in 2022 under Pope Francis after the Church ruled she had been killed out of hatred for the Catholic faith.
Keverly Escobar, 27, one of the lead singers, told Reuters she was proud to be part of the choir honoring a Peruvian saint who gave "her life for the most humble."
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who → feature → humble
The song's composer and musician, Jaime Montoya, said he was inspired to write the hymn because he saw a common thread —sacrifice — that unites the missionary and Pope Leo.
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that → say → missionary
"The song came about partly while looking back on the life of our then-bishop, Robert Prevost," when the now-pontiff was a missionary in Peru, Montoya added.
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Montoya → come → Peru
Peru endured a brutal conflict between security forces and Shining Path, a guerrilla movement that sought to establish a communist state.
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that → endure → state
The violence left roughly 69,000 people dead or missing between 1980 and 2000, mostly in Peru's poorer indigenous and Amazon communities, according to official estimates.
"Aguchita knew she was confronting Shining Path, which at that time had the government under pressure and wanted to force all communities to join its cause," said Monsignor Pedro Castro of the Apostolic Vicariate of San Ramon, where the missionary served.
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missionary → leave → Ramon
Pope Leo's visit comes soon after President Keiko Fujimori took office in July, pledging to unite the country following years of political turmoil.
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Fujimori → come → turmoil
Fujimori, the daughter of former President Alberto Fujimori, has praised her father's role in defeating the Shining Path insurgency in the 1990s, though his legacy remains divisive because of corruption and human rights abuses committed during his rule.
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legacy → praise → rule
The hymn won a national competition to find a song symbolizing unity ahead of the Pope's November 11 to 16 visit to Peru, part of a South American tour that will include Argentina and Uruguay.
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that → win → Argentina
Pope Leo, the first U.S.-born pontiff, first arrived in Peru in 1985 and became a Peruvian citizen in 2015 after being appointed bishop of Chiclayo, where he stayed until 2023.
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he → arrive → 2023
