“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,’” Mildred Camacho recalled.

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“Godfather, we love you! Long live the Pope!” Mildred Camacho exclaimed as she shared her moving testimony about Father Robert Prevost, who was a young Augustinian priest in Chulucanas, Peru, when she was born and who today leads the Church as Pope Leo XIV.

The 29-year-old Peruvian mother of two daughters and a devotee of St. John Paul II is justifiably proud of her godfather: “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 in an interview with EWTN Noticias, the Spanish-language broadcast edition of EWTN News.

The connection between the two began decades ago, when her father, Héctor Camacho, was a teenager serving as an altar boy at the cathedral in Chulucanas in the Piura district of the country. At that time, then-Father Prevost had just arrived in Peru as an Augustinian missionary, where he worked from 1985 to 1986.

“He always instilled in us the importance of believing in God, having faith, being respectful, polite, and trying to excel in life,” Camacho told EWTN News.

Some time later, Camacho moved to Trujillo to study, where he met Father Prevost again. The priest gave him spiritual guidance and encouraged him to do charitable work. When Father Prevost had to travel to the United States due to the death of his mother, Camacho asked his permission to name his daughter Mildred after her. Later, he also asked him to be her godfather.

The baptism took place at St. Joseph the Worker parish in Chulucanas, and it forever marked Mildred’s life. Although she doesn’t have that many memories because they didn’t see each other much, her godfather’s teachings and example were always present.

She treasures the messages that then-Father Prevost sent her by email. She also remembers that whenever she attended a Mass or event where he was present, her godfather always made time to greet her family.

The last time she saw him was on her birthday, Aug. 10, 2024, when as Cardinal Prevost he returned to Chulucanas to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the diocese. On that occasion, he let her know that it might be many years before they would be able to communicate. 

“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,’” Mildred recalled.

About her godfather, she said: “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.”

Mildred dreams of seeing her godfather again. If Pope Leo XIV comes to Peru, she is willing 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!”

In Chulucanas, Father Prevost lived at St. Joseph the Worker parish, where he slept in a small, humble room. A servant of God, Father Juan Magnif, an Augustinian who lived to the age of 85 and won the affection of the people for his charity, also lived at this same parish.

According to the Andina news agency, Magnif was the only American Augustinian Fidel Castro allowed to remain in Cuba after the revolution. Now, a mausoleum is being built next to the parish where his remains will rest, which will be transported from the United States.

Pope Leo XIV could be the one to declare him “Blessed.”

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This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA and NCRegister.