The Compadre (literal English translation: Co-father) relationship is an important bond which is created when a child is Baptized within the Hispanic/Latin American community.

From the moment of the Baptism ceremony and going forward through out the child's life, the Godfather (ie Padrino) shares the parenting role of the child with the natural parents. It is the Padrino's role and responsibility to insure that the child is brought up to highest dictates of faith and to insure the child pursues a life of improvement and success (whether this is through education, marriage, personal development, etc.).

From the moment of Baptism the Godfather and the Natural Father become Compadres. Traditionally among Latin Americans, this relationship formalizes a pre-existing friendship and it results in a strong lifelong bond between the two Compadres. In its truest form the Compadre relationship becomes as strong a bond as the relationship between natural brothers or between a father and a son.

For females the relationship is very similar and is called Comadres. The natural mother will be the Comadre of the Godfather. While the Godmother is the Comadre of the natural father, and the natural mother.

In recent years the term Compadre has been incorrectly used to describe the relationship between two good friends. Yet this is not to be confused with a true Compadre relationship which comes about only as a result of the Baptism of a child.

For Latin Americans/Hispanics there is no greater honor than to be asked to be a Padrino or a Compadre, and with it the Godfather (i.e. Padrino) becomes an integral part of the family, and a Compadre of the natural parents.

Latin American culture | Baptism