VATICAN CITY / LIMA — Pope Leo XIV, currently on an apostolic tour of South America, is drawing international attention for his extraordinary linguistic abilities, using his command of multiple languages to deeply connect with believers around the globe.

According to Peru's Andina news agency on the 9th (local time), the Pope is fluent in five major languages: English (his native tongue), Spanish, Italian, French, and Portuguese.

His linguistic journey began with Italian, which he acquired while studying canon law at the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum) in Rome. His fluency in French stems from his childhood, having grown up with French-descent maternal relatives.

Pope Leo XIV started mastering Spanish after being assigned to pastoral work in Peru in 1985. Having spent roughly half of his priestly ministry in the country, he achieved complete fluency. His mastery of Portuguese came naturally given its close linguistic ties to Spanish. In addition to these spoken languages, he is well-versed in Latin and German, enabling him to thoroughly examine theological and historical literature.

Notably, during his 11 years of ministry in the Trujillo region of Peru, the Pope dedicated himself to learning Quechua, the indigenous language of the ancient Inca Empire. Far from being a dead language, Quechua is still spoken daily by millions of people in the Andes. Demonstrating remarkable dedication, the Pope even took online courses to refine his fluency.

Yaninna César, former director of the Catholic charity Caritas Chiclayo, told TV Perú, "During his frequent visits to the high-altitude Andean regions, the Pope was able to communicate directly and personally with residents who speak only Quechua."

Meanwhile, the Pope continued his grueling South American itinerary in Argentina for a second consecutive day. His morning schedule included a visit to a disability care center, where he listened directly to the heartfelt stories of residents without the aid of an interpreter. Later, he presided over a Holy Mass at the Metropolitan Cathedral of Buenos Aires and delivered a keynote address at the Pontifical Catholic University of Argentina, emphasizing that "the economy must serve humanity, not the other way around."

Having undergone lung cancer surgery less than a month ago, Pope Leo XIV is pressing forward with a demanding 12-day, three-nation itinerary encompassing over 50 scheduled events.

[ⓒ Global Economic Times. 무단전재-재배포 금지]