Sawt Falasteen - Blessings but not tips from Pope Leo at Peru diner

The US-born pontiff, who was elected pope in the Vatican City this week, devoted more than 20 years as a missionary in the Andean country and became a Peruvian national in 2015.

"We are happy and lucky to have served our current Pope Leo XIV," said Carlos Lopez, who waited on a younger Robert Prevost at the El Trebol restaurant years before he became pontiff.

He said that Prevost was a regular at the eatery when he was bishop in the northern town between 2015 and 2023.

"This was one of the pope's favorite places. He used to come two or three times a week," said Lopez.

"He had his favorite table here, number three, with a view of the cathedral," the waiter donning a white shirt, orange tie, and black waistcoat told AFP.

"He didn't tip you, that's for sure, but he gave you his blessing."

Lopez recounted Prevost as a calm and quiet character who ate well and loved the local cuisine.

"He was a very calm person who inspired peace when he spoke, a very humble person," Lopez said.

Chicharron, a dish made from fried chicken or pork belly, and washed down with orange juice and coffee -- that was breakfast; lunch was sometimes stewed goat; dinner was chicken broth, Lopez recalled.

Prevost also frequented the nearby restaurant of Las Americas where manager Rodrigo Couto said the bishop was "kind and simple" -- and also a joker.

"Sometimes we got his order wrong, and he would say: 'God will repay you,'" Couto quipped.

R.AbuNasser--SF-PST