It was just after 7:30 PM in Madrid when I opened TikTok and casually scrolled through the usual mix of cat videos, trending recipes, and political drama. Then one headline made me pause: “Robert Prevost elected Pope.” I almost kept scrolling — until I saw a word I wasn’t expecting: Peru. A Pope with a Peruvian connection? With a DNI? From Chiclayo? Suddenly, this international headline felt strangely personal.'

Robert Prevost spent over 20 years working in Peru, serving as Bishop of Chiclayo and holding Peruvian nationality — yes, he even has a DNI. Born in Chicago but deeply connected to my country, he walked our streets, spoke our language, and understood our rhythms in a way that few outsiders do.

As a Peruvian living abroad, moments like this catch me off guard. You don’t expect to see a place like Chiclayo mentioned alongside the Vatican. You don’t expect to hear the words "Pope" and "Chiclayo" in the same sentence. But today, it happened. And strangely enough, it made me reflect not just on faith or identity, but on the strange, beautiful, and sometimes lonely life of living as an expat.

Being from Everywhere and Nowhere

When you live abroad — especially as a freelancer or a virtual assistant — you learn to live in the in-between. You’re always explaining yourself. You’re never fully from here or there. You keep a mental calendar that spans time zones. You dream in more than one language.

So when I saw Robert Prevost standing on that Vatican balcony — a man from Chicago with Peruvian paperwork, leading the most global institution on earth — I thought, Hey, I get that.

Being an expat is a form of leadership. You’re constantly adapting, representing, translating — often without realizing it.

Lessons from Pope Leo XIV for Those Living Abroad

You might be wondering: what does a new Pope have to do with life in Madrid, or being a bilingual assistant, or freelancing? Quite a lot, actually. Hear me out.

1. First impressions matter

Leo XIV’s first public words were humble, intentional, and powerful. Just like a strong first meeting with a new client, or how you introduce yourself in a new culture.

When people meet you — through your work, your accent, your website — you have just a few seconds to show who you are. The best introductions aren’t flashy. They’re clear.

"Hi, I’m Layla. I help founders and content creators stay organized, visible, and human in a noisy digital world."

That’s my version of stepping onto the balcony.

2. Clarity of purpose builds trust

The Pope doesn’t need to manage a Notion board or schedule meetings, but he does need to lead with vision. Expats aren’t that different.

Whether you’re supporting families back home, building a business in a new language, or simply trying to belong — having a clear sense of who you are makes all the difference.

3. You can lead from anywhere

Leo XIV built decades of influence in northern Peru — far from Rome, far from the spotlight. That resonates deeply with those of us who live in modest apartments, work remotely, and still show up for people across the world.

Being “from the outside” doesn’t make you less effective. It makes you adaptable.

4. Multicultural experiences are your superpower

Prevost understood Peru in a way few outsiders do. That’s because he lived there. He listened. He stayed.

As a bilingual expat assistant, this hit home. I don’t just translate words — I translate tone, culture, intention. I support clients from the US, Canada, and now Spain, because I get their world.

If you’re someone who lives between cultures, don’t shrink that experience. That’s where your value lives.

Final Thoughts (and a Quiet Moment of Pride)

I don’t usually talk about faith on this blog. But today, I’m allowing myself a moment of quiet pride. Not because the Pope is Peruvian, but because he reminds me that hybrid identities matter. That being from more than one place doesn’t dilute you — it deepens you.

Whether you’re navigating bureaucracy in Madrid, video-calling family in Lima, or building a portfolio that spans continents, remember this:

You can belong in more than one place. You can lead from afar. And you are allowed to feel everything at once.

And if you ever need someone who understands this beautifully chaotic in-between — to help organize your life, your business, or simply listen — I’m here.

Let’s build something meaningful, wherever you are.

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