The Augustinian order has been in the spotlight since May 8, the day one of its own was elected Pope Leo XIV.
The Augustinian order has been in the spotlight since May 8, the day one of its own was elected Pope Leo XIV.
When Brendan Towell approached the prior general of the Augustinian order at a youth event in 2010, he had no idea the man he was speaking with would one day become the leader of the Catholic Church.
Pope Leo XIV’s pontificate has just barely begun, but he has already had an impact on Melanie Robinson’s life.
The Archdiocese of Chicago has teamed up with the Chicago White Sox baseball team, scheduling a Mass and a special program June 14 to celebrate the election and inauguration of Pope Leo XIV, a native son of the Windy City.
Students at St. Leo Catholic Academy in Queens erupted with joy after Cardinal Prevost chose the name Pope Leo XIV—matching their school’s namesake.
Pope Leo XIV, formerly Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, is a native of Chicago who spent the first third of his life in the United States before his ministry took him to Peru and, more recently, to Rome. There, he served as the prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops, advising Pope Francis on episcopal appointments around the globe.
During a meeting with Eastern Catholics, many of whom come from war-torn regions of the world, Pope Leo XIV pledged the Vatican’s full commitment to promoting peace and reconciliation.
Augustinian Father Robert Hagan said that fellow order member Pope Leo XIV has “always been a brother to us” — one who encouraged him from his early days to his own leadership role in the order.
Pope Leo XIV’s episcopal motto and coat of arms reflect his Augustinian roots, devotion to St. Augustine, and commitment to unity, peace, and Gospel-centered mission in the Church.
With a huge and festive crowd gathered in St. Peter’s Square, Pope Leo XIV led his first Sunday recitation of the “Regina Coeli” prayer and urged all Catholics to pray for vocations, especially to the priesthood and religious life.