# Mother Meets Pope After Son's Health Struggles

> Peruvian mother Maria Guzman shares her faith journey with Pope Leo after her autistic son Agustin's health challenges.
- Title: Mother Meets Pope After Son's Health Struggles · Vaticannews
- Summary: Peruvian mother Maria Guzman shares her faith journey with Pope Leo after her autistic son Agustin's health challenges.
- Keywords: peru, pope leo xiv, agustin guzman, autism, epilepsy, cancer, faith, rosary, catholic university, chiclayo, religion, Vaticannews
- Source: Vaticannews — https://vaticannews.va/en/church/news/2026-11/peru-chiclayo-agustin-mother-maria-meets-pope-leo-xiv.html
- Author: Vatican News
- Published: 2026-11-14T00:53:03.809+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: peru, pope leo xiv, agustin guzman, autism, epilepsy, cancer, faith, rosary, catholic university, chiclayo, religion, world
## Maria Guzman's Testimony
Peruvian professor Maria Guzman shared her family's journey with her son Agustin who has autism and epilepsy.
## Pope Leo's Reaction
Pope Leo thanked Maria for her faithfulness after hearing her testimony about Agustin's health challenges.

> Thank you for your faithfulness
## Meeting Significance
Maria described meeting Pope Leo as a grace she hadn't expected, noting the coincidence of the feast day of St. Augustine.

> Meeting the Pope was a grace I hadn't expected
## Family Support System
Maria's daughters help care for Agustin when the family is away, managing his medical needs like oxygen.
## Faith-Based Advice
Maria advises families to trust God, pray the Rosary, and pass faith through example to children.

> Entrust yourselves to God and to Our Lady, and never give up praying the Rosary
## Church Support Request
Maria calls for greater visibility and awareness to help families with disabled children feel comfortable in public.

> We need to raise awareness and help people understand that a disability never diminishes a person’s dignity
## Key takeaway

Peruvian professor Maria Guzman met Pope Leo after her son Agustin's cancer diagnosis, crediting his faith for their resilience.