In the small town of Chulucanas, Peru, the faithful remember Pope Leo XIV not just as the Supreme Pontiff, but as “Father Robert,” a young Augustinian missionary who made a profound impact during his brief time there in the 1980s. For one woman in particular, the connection is deeply personal—and lifelong.
“Godfather, we love you! Long live the pope!” exclaimed 29-year-old Mildred Camacho in an interview with EWTN Noticias, the Spanish-language edition of EWTN News. Her words reflect not only national pride but the intimate affection of a goddaughter whose life has been shaped by the man now known to the world as Pope Leo XIV.
Mildred is the daughter of Héctor Camacho, who first met Father Robert Prevost as a teenager while serving as an altar boy in Chulucanas’ cathedral. “He always instilled in us the importance of believing in God, having faith, being respectful, polite, and trying to excel in life,” Héctor told EWTN News.
Their spiritual journey continued even after Héctor moved to Trujillo to study, where he again encountered Father Prevost. The missionary priest continued to offer guidance and encouraged him to serve the poor. When Prevost had to return to the U.S. following his mother’s death, Héctor asked if he could name his daughter Mildred after her, and later requested that he become her godfather.
The baptism took place at St. Joseph the Worker Parish, where then-Father Prevost had lived in “a small, humble room,” according to the Andina news agency. It was there that another notable figure, Father Juan Magnif—an American Augustinian who served in Cuba and was allowed by Fidel Castro to remain after the revolution—also lived. Plans are underway to return Father Magnif’s remains from the U.S. to be buried in a mausoleum beside the parish.
For Mildred, the baptism was only the beginning of a lifelong bond. Though they rarely saw one another, she treasures the few emails and memories she carries. “What he always told me was: ‘Live with joy, live happily.’ And I always remember him saying: ‘Keep me in your prayers, as I keep you in mine,’” she told EWTN Noticias.
Her godfather’s spiritual wisdom left a deep impression. “He always told us that faith isn’t just about going to Mass but about living with charity, loving one’s neighbor, and being a light for others. He always inspired me to have hope and not give up in the face of difficulties.”
The last time she saw him was on her birthday, August 10, 2024, when Cardinal Prevost returned to Chulucanas to mark the 60th anniversary of the diocese. It was then he told her it might be many years before they could speak again.
Still, Mildred holds onto hope. “I would love to tell him that I have admired him since I was little, that it’s not just a recent thing,” she said. If Pope Leo XIV ever returns to Peru, she’s ready to “camp on the street where he passes by just to be able to see him up close, hug him, and say: ‘Godfather, we love you!’”
Through the eyes of his goddaughter, the faithful see Pope Leo XIV not just as the Vicar of Christ, but as a man whose life of humility, missionary zeal, and personal witness continues to touch hearts far beyond the Vatican walls.
