Father Robert Prevost first arrived in Peru in 1985 during a time of crisis, the aftermath of devastating El Niño rains that had left thousands of people homeless.

I met the man who would become Pope Leo XIV in October 2023. We were standing outside the Vatican’s Synod Hall, and from my short conversation with Cardinal Robert Prevost, I could tell he was a good listener,

Janinna Sesa worked alongside Pope Leo XIV in Chiclayo, Peru from 2015 until 2023. She spoke with NPR about his leadership in times of crisis.