By Stephen DeAngelis
A New American Leader of the World’s Catholic community is the right leader for the New Reality of today’s world — a source of unity in a world that is driven by division. I am hopeful that we are beginning to see new leaders emerging from the chaos who can help heal a brittle, divided, and anxious world during a time of great change and uncertainty.
Cardinal Robert Prevost was not the betting favorite to become the next leader of the world’s 1.4 billion Roman Catholics; nevertheless, he was elected on the second ballot by the Conclave of Cardinals to become Pope Leo XIV. Los Angeles Times’ reporters noted that the faithful “were delighted — and a little stunned.”[1] His election was historic. The Associated Press reported, “The Chicago-born missionary who spent his career ministering in Peru and took over the Vatican’s powerful office of bishops was elected the first pope from the United States in the 2,000-year history of the Catholic Church.”[2]
Pope Leo joined the Order of St. Augustine in 1977. His Augustinian background, which is rooted in the teachings of St. Augustine of Hippo, one of the Church's most influential thinkers, is expected to significantly shape his papal philosophy and approach.[3] Pope Leo’s Augustinian education began at Villanova University, where he completed his undergraduate studies. In 1977, he received a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics.
Following his graduation from Villanova, he earned a Master of Divinity from Catholic Theological Union in Chicago in 1982. He was ordained a priest the same year. From Chicago, he moved to Rome where he went on to earn both licentiate (1984) and doctorate (1987) degrees in canon law from the Pontifical College of St. Thomas Aquinas. Following his graduate education, he joined an Augustinian mission in Peru, where he served for nearly twenty years. In 1999, he was named provincial of the Augustinian Province of Chicago. Two years later, he was elected prior general of the Augustinians and reelected to a second six-year term in 2007.
Seven years later, in 2014, Pope Francis appointed then-Bishop Prevost as apostolic administrator of the Diocese of Chiclayo in northern Peru and titular bishop of Sufar. The following year, he was elevated to bishop of Chiclayo. He served in that capacity for eight years until his January 2023 appointment as prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops (formerly the Congregation of Bishops). He was elevated to office of Cardinal in 2023. The following core Augustinian values will likely influence the new Pope’s thinking and actions:
• Unity and Community: A foundational tenet of the Augustinian order, derived from St. Augustine, is to "live together in harmony, being of one mind and one heart on the way to God."[4] This emphasis on living harmoniously with a shared purpose could translate into a papal focus on unity within the Church and promoting a sense of collective spiritual journey.
• Interiority and Self-Reflection: St. Augustine's Confessions highlight the journey of self-discovery and the struggle to understand one's inner life. The new Pope might encourage deeper spiritual reflection and personal conversion, emphasizing that true reform begins within the individual (i.e., finding a way to gather “disparate desires and thoughts into a coherent whole”).[5]
• Forgiveness and Renewal: Augustine viewed forgiveness as a transformative present moment (i.e., a “right now”) that opens the way for a “new creation” of the self, freed from past wrongdoing.[6] Pope Leo may emphasize this profound, existential aspect of forgiveness and the divine grace that calls for constant renewal.
• Memory and Identity: For Augustine, memory “is both the source of our identity and the site of our deepest struggles. … Pope Leo XIV, drawing from this rich Augustinian heritage, may emphasize the importance of remembering not just our sins, but also the divine grace that constantly calls us to renewal and transformation.”[7]
• Service and Poverty: The Order of St. Augustine is “a community of ‘mendicant’ friars, dedicated to poverty, service, and evangelization.”[8] This commitment to serving others, particularly the poor, is a strong element of their ethos and will likely be a prominent feature of Pope Leo XIV's papacy.
• Faith and Reason: Villanova President, the Reverand Peter M. Donohue, OSA, notes, “Villanova, built on the teachings of St. Augustine, has always been grounded in advancing a deeper understanding of the fundamental relationship between faith and reason—between spirituality and wisdom.”[9] This intellectual heritage could inform Pope Leo’s approach to dialogue with the modern world.
Although his election to the papacy came as a surprise to many. In retrospect, he is a natural successor to his predecessor. Pope Francis believed that priests were, first and foremost, shepherds of the flock; and, if they were doing their duty, they “lived with the smell of the sheep.” Pope Leo is such a shepherd. New York Times’ reporters explain, “He resembles Francis in his commitment to the poor and migrants, and to meeting people where they are. He told the Vatican’s official news website last year that ‘the bishop is not supposed to be a little prince sitting in his kingdom.’”[10] Matteo Bruni, Director of the Holy See Press Office, reported that the new Pope selected his name to underscore the importance of caring for people. “Bruni confirmed that the decision to be called Leo XIV was a clear and deliberate reference to Pope Leo XIII, author of the 1891 encyclical Rerum Novarum. That document marked the beginning of the Church’s modern social doctrine.”[11] Bruni added, “In this context, it is clearly a reference to the lives of men and women, to their work — even in an age marked by artificial intelligence.”
The Reverend Donohue observed that the new Pope is “known for his humility, gentle spirit, prudence and warmth.” Those qualities make Pope Leo XIV the right man at the right time. When so many leaders are looking inward, raising barriers, and disregarding the needs of the poor, the Los Angeles Times noted, “It’s hard to overstate just how international in scope the new pope is. He was born in Chicago to a father of Italian and French ancestry and a mother of Spanish ancestry. He pursued his education in the U.S. and Italy. He is a naturalized citizen of Peru, where he was a priest for 20 years. He speaks English, Italian, Spanish, Latin and French.” The paper went on to note, “The real growth [of the Roman Catholic Church] is almost exclusively in the Southern Hemisphere — where the church still dominates culture, politics and many aspects of daily life.”
The new Pope’s first words were, “Peace be with you all.” He added, “We can be a missionary church, a church that builds bridges, that is always open to receive everyone — just like in this square, to welcome everyone, in charity, dialogue and love.” Kathleen Sprows Cummings, a professor of history at the University of Notre Dame, noted that the new Pontiff has “a pastoral heart, managerial experience, and global vision.”[12] He will need a long-term, global vision and will need to continue to transcend borders in order to help his church and the world navigate the challenges it currently faces. At the age of 69, he could have a significant tenure as the Holy See. I wish him all the best and a productive reign.
Footnotes
[1] Jack Dolan, Melissa Gomez, Sonja Sharp and Deborah Netburn, “Much like L.A., this American-born pope transcends borders,” Los Angeles Times, 8 May 2025.
[2] Curtis Yee, Katarina Kratovac, and Michael Warren, editors, “Robert Prevost of the United States is named Pope Leo XIV,” Associated Press, 8 May 2025.
[3] Daniel Esparza, “What you should know about St. Augustine and the new Augustinian Pope,” Aleteia, 8 May 2025.
[4] Associated Press, “New pope led Order of St. Augustine dedicated to the poor and service,” WTOP News, 8 May 2025.
[5] Esparza, op. cit.
[6] Ibid.
[7] Ibid.
[8] Associated Press, op. cit.
[9] Staff, “Augustinian Friar and Villanova University Alumnus Elected Pope,” Villanova University, 8 May 2025.
[10] Elisabetta Povoledo, Jason Horowitz, Emma Bubola, Motoko Rich, and Elizabeth Dias, “Who Is Pope Leo XIV?” The New York Times, 8 May 2025.
[11] Francesca Merlo, “Matteo Bruni: Pope Leo XIV's name choice highlights the Church's mission,” Vatican News, 8 May 2025.
[12] Chico Harlan and Emily Wax-Thibodeaux, “Cardinal Robert Prevost becomes first American-born pope,” The Washington Post, 8 May 2025.
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