Chulcana (Peru): A Reflection on Pope Leo XIV
Hector Camacho recalls the official announcement of Pope Leo XIV this past Sunday.
Back in 1985, as a teenager and altar boy in Chulcana, a northern town in Peru, it was a significant moment for him—his first experience with a pope in the country he would call home for decades.
Reuters visited this town where Prevost began his religious education. Locals remembered him as a charismatic young missionary.
“He had a presence that drew people in,” Camacho, now 53, shared in a small chapel in Japatera, where he had once trained.
He reminisces about trips to Adobe’s Mud Brick Church, often with the young missionary who navigated the area on foot or horseback, carrying the essentials for worship. Camacho fondly recalls how he invited altar boys for beach trips and sought out coaches for karate, swimming, and basketball—efforts meant to steer the youth away from negative influences.
“He was young and engaged; I appreciate that he joined us for basketball and beach outings,” he added.
Despite the riches from gold and minerals, northern Peru faces significant poverty and struggles with flooding in the rainy season.
During the 1980s and 90s, the region suffered from internal strife involving violent confrontations between Maoist guerrillas and government forces, which claimed around 70,000 lives.
Fidel Alvarado, a local priest, was a seminary student at the time and recalls facing bomb threats that damaged church property. But the community’s warmth motivated him to stay.
“It was the people’s encouragement that kept us here,” he said, emphasizing the bonds formed with the locals.
Photos from that era show a youthful Prevost holding ceremonial wine in a church.
The space where he lived as an early missionary was modest but had a small garden courtyard. It contained the essentials: a bed, desk, and shared facilities.
Cristobal Mejia, the current bishop, reminisced about the late nights Prevost would spend in prayer, rising early to connect with his faith.
Having acquired Peruvian citizenship in 2015, Prevost speaks fluent Spanish and enjoys traditional meals like ceviche and chicken chicharrón.
From 2015 to 2023, he served as the bishop of Chiclayo City, not far from his initial parish.
The Value of Community
His connection with the congregation was likened to that of a “smelling sheep,” highlighting his closeness to the community.
“He emphasized community values, which resonate with St. Augustine’s teachings,” Alvarado noted, as Leo XIV is set to become the first pope from Augustine’s order.
Alvarado also mentioned that the Augustinians aimed to reach out to people, supporting education in engineering and law.
“I had hoped he’d take on an Augustine name, but he didn’t want to appear as the center of attention,” Alvarado explained, referencing the previous pope’s commitment to social justice.
“He envisions a church that listens to the struggles of the poor, and I believe Robert will embody that.”
Oscar Antoni Omri Ljovillanueva, a priest who met Prevost in the late ’80s, noted his empathy for the hardships in Peru.
“Prevost never shied away from speaking out against injustices in Trujillo and Peru as a whole,” he reflected.
Calm Amidst Turmoil
Many remember Prevost as calm and level-headed, though firm in his educational expectations.
Jose William Ribadeneira, a current seminary teacher, recalled him as humorous, often spreading laughter among students.
Camacho continued serving as an altar boy when Prevost moved to Trujillo, and despite facing tough situations, he remarked on Prevost’s composure.
“One day, I found him packing his things to return to the U.S. after his mother’s passing,” Camacho recalled. “Though I felt heartbroken for him, he had an unshakeable calm about it.”
Years later, Camacho named his daughter after his late mother and became her godfather.
Now, with a child of her own, Mildred stays in contact with Prevost, sharing photos and updates about her family.
“He always tells me to remember him in my prayers; I do,” she shared.
