Pope Leo's links to the country run far beyond the diocese. He lived in Peru for long periods between 1985 and 2023, became a citizen in 2015, and built close ties with local communities.
The stop brought the US-born pontiff back to a rural community he has long known. Santa Cruz lies in the Diocese of Chiclayo, where he served as bishop from 2015 to 2023.
During those years he visited Santa Cruz several times a year to minister to the town's rural population.
In his sermon, Pope Leo thanked those who had made the journey and stressed the importance of never losing heart. He later toured the town in a popemobile, waving to people who had come from across the region.
The visit lands in one of Peru's hardest-pressed areas. More than 40% of the population in Cajamarca live in poverty, the highest figure in the country, according to official data.
Cajamarca has also lost more people to internal migration than any other region. Some 729,000 people born there now live elsewhere in Peru.
His tour of the region is due to conclude on Monday, when he will return to Rome.