With all this in mind, Cipriani said he believes the Pope will encourage the Peruvian bishops "to say: 'in seeking holiness you have to come together in a vision that brings Christ to all'."
Another key theme of the trip, the cardinal said, will be the role of Peruvian saints, which the Pope brought up in their meeting yesterday, and which he mentioned in a short videomessage he released for the trip in August.
"In a few words he told me that Peru has many saints and great saints, and I think that this is something that moves me and that I hope will be developed in this trip," the cardinal said.
Among the most well-known Peruvian saints are Rose of Lima, Martin de Porres, and and Toribio de Mogroviejo.
According to Cipriani, the Pope's favorite is Martin de Porres, who was the son of a Spanish nobleman and a black slave woman. The saint had wanted to enter the Dominican order, but was initially prevented from becoming a brother due to a law at the time that prevented people of mixed race from joining religious orders.
Instead, he lived with the community and did manual work, earning the nickname "the saint of the broom" for his diligence and care in cleaning the friars' quarters. Eventually, he was permitted to join the order despite the law, and he worked with the sick in the infirmary.
On Martin de Porres, Francis says "he likes him more than anyone because of the broom, because he had to clean many things so that the Church was better," Cipriani said.
Other big themes for the trip, the cardinal said, will be environmental issues, particularly related to the Amazon region, and the youth.
The highlight will be the Pope's visit to Puerto Maldonado, an area of the Amazon affected by extreme poverty and which has a wide variety of wildlife. During his visit there, Pope Francis is going to see "a lot of poverty, a lot of (the) force of nature."
When it comes to the nation's youth, Cipriani said Francis is going to see a lot of young people "very excited for the coming of the Pope."
Pope Francis' visit, he said, is important above all because "the Vicar of Christ is coming … it's a wonderful occasion in which God blesses the Peruvian people."
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Peru, he said, "needs the presence of a man that sows peace, unity and joy among us, and who strengthens us in the faith. Because of this we are awaiting him with enthusiasm."
Above all, Peru will greet the Pope with "great joy, with a lot of noise, with the streets full," he said, adding that the Pope "is going to have a great time."
Alvaro de Juana contributed to this report.
Elise Harris was senior Rome correspondent for CNA from 2012 to 2018.