Pope Leo XIV’s Early Mission in Northern Peru
Hector Camacho vividly recalls Robert Prevost, who will be formally inaugurated as Pope Leo XIV this Sunday, as a young missionary from Chicago. Wearing jeans and speaking broken Spanish, Prevost landed in Peru during a turbulent era marked by internal conflict. This four-word keyphrase, Pope Leo XIV’s early mission, captures the journey that shaped his decades-long commitment to the country.
In 1985, Camacho was still a teenager and altar boy in Chulucanas, a northern Peruvian town near the jungle. It was there that Prevost began his work as a parish priest, marking his first extended stay in Peru—a place that would become his home intermittently for more than 40 years.
A visit to Chulucanas reveals how Prevost applied his religious education from the United States and Rome. Locals remember him as a charismatic young man whose presence naturally drew people. “He had this aura that spoke to people. People flocked to him,” Camacho said, speaking from the small chapel in Yapatera where Prevost once preached.
Building Community Amidst Conflict
Camacho reminisces about accompanying Prevost on visits to the region’s adobe churches, sometimes traveling on foot or horseback. Prevost carried crucifixes and ceremonial wine, asking altar boys for help with Spanish phrases. He also organized activities to keep local youth away from crime, hiring coaches for karate, swimming, and basketball.
“He came here when he was really young, but we thank that young man who walked with us, played basketball in the arena and would take us to the beach for the weekend,” Camacho added.
Northern Peru, despite its mineral wealth, has long suffered from poverty and seasonal flooding. During the 1980s and 1990s, the region endured violent clashes between Maoist guerrillas and government forces, resulting in approximately 70,000 deaths.
Commitment Despite Danger
Fidel Alvarado, a local priest, recalls the danger Prevost faced, including a bomb attack on a church door and threats forcing North American priests to leave within 24 hours. Yet, Prevost and his colleagues chose to stay because of their connection with the people.
“What convinced them to stay was the people, they had traveled around and felt the love of the people,” Alvarado explained.
In Yapatera, a sepia photograph shows a young Prevost holding up a chalice in the church where the dirt floor has since been replaced with cement. His simple living quarters in Chulucanas included a modest room with basic furnishings and a shared bathroom.
The Shepherd That Smells of Sheep
Current Bishop Cristobal Mejia describes Prevost as a disciplined man who rose early each day to pray. He enjoyed driving a pickup truck similar to the one Prevost once used. Having become a Peruvian citizen in 2015, Prevost grew fluent in Spanish and embraced local cuisine like ceviche and chicken chicharron.
From 2015 to 2023, Prevost served as bishop of Chiclayo, about four hours from his first parish. The phrase “shepherd that smells of the sheep” is often used by locals to describe how closely he related to his community.
Alvarado said, “He always spoke to us about the value of community, which is part of the beauty of Saint Augustine.” As the first pope from the Augustinian order, Leo XIV emphasizes listening to the poor and uniting people rather than dividing them.
Enduring Calm and Compassion
Others remember Prevost as calm and fun-loving, never driven by strong emotions but firm on academic standards, even expelling students who cheated. Jose William Rivadeneyra, a former seminarian, recalled Prevost’s contagious sense of humor.
Camacho never saw him angry, even during difficult times. When Prevost had to return to the United States due to his mother’s death, he remained composed. “He had this calmness. He was very prepared, like his mother was in the hands of God, who would receive her,” Camacho said.
Camacho later named his daughter after Prevost’s late mother, and Prevost became her godfather. Now 29, she stays in touch with him as he rises through the Church’s ranks, cherishing his letters and updates. “His phrase was always, keep me in your prayers as I have you present in mine.”
For more updates on Pope Leo XIV’s early mission, visit Filipinokami.com.