Local Voices
Philadelphia Woman Who Was Confirmed By Pope Leo In Peru Reflects On Spiritual Connection With New Pontiff
"I cried, a lot of emotion when I found out," Custodio said. "It just feels very special that I got to meet him — and now he's the pope."
May 13, 2025
As the world looks to the future under newly elected Pope Leo XIV, one woman in Philadelphia is reflecting on a personal moment she shares with him — one that changed her life nearly a decade ago.
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Fernanda Custodio, a Peruvian immigrant now living in Brewerytown, was confirmed in the Catholic Church by Pope Leo in 2016, years before he became the head of the Vatican.
"I cried, a lot of emotion when I found out," Custodio said. "It just feels very special that I got to meet him — and now he's the pope."
Find out what's happening in Philadelphiafor free with the latest updates from Patch.
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