Habemus Papam! Pope Leo XIV & Augustinian Unity

Robert Francis Prevost
Born September 14, 1955 – Chicago, Illinois

by Franci Revel Eckensberger

Habemus Papam! We have a pope! 

On Friday, May 8, Robert Francis Prevost addressed the world for the first time as Pope Leo XIV. His first address included gratitude towards the late Pope Francis, a Hail Mary, and an emphasis on being a missionary Church, seeking “peace, charity, and closeness, especially to those who are suffering.” 

Particularly moving was the manner in which the new pope began his address. He first reminded us of the risen Christ’s “first greeting”–Peace be with you. He continued:

I, too, would like this greeting of peace to enter your hearts, to reach your families and all people, wherever they are; and all the peoples, and all the earth: Peace be with you.

This is the peace of the Risen Christ, a disarming and humble and preserving peace. It comes from God. God, who loves all of us, without any limits or conditions. [. . .] God loves us, all of us, evil will not prevail. We are all in the hands of God. Without fear, united, hand in hand with God and among ourselves, we will go forward.

–  Pope Leo XIV

That a sense of community, unity, and togetherness punctuated his greeting is no surprise: Pope Leo XIV is an Augustinian, the order of “one heart and one soul.” The order emphasizes service, love, charity, humility, and an intellectually rigorous spirituality that seeks God within.  

A Brief Look at Pope Leo XIV

Robert Francis Prevost was born in Chicago, Illinois, and spent much of his religious life serving in Peru, where he also holds citizenship. Former head of the Augustinians, he holds a doctorate in canon law from the Pontifical College of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome and has served as a parish pastor, diocesan official, director of formation, seminary teacher, judicial vicar, and Bishop of Chiclayo, Peru, according to the College of Cardinals Report. 

Like his predecessor, Prevost is in ways an unprecedented choice–he is our first Augustinian pope, but he is also our first American pope, a fact that continues to confound, thrill, and move many of us both at home in the US and abroad. His relatively young age and recent 2023 appointment to the cardinalate further contribute to his status as a surprise pick for the pontificate.

Pope Leo has been called an “incredibly bright” “critical thinker” as well as a wonderful writer, preacher, and theologian who is also a warm and approachable “people person.” Brendan Towell called his election a “providential answer to the Church’s current need,” noting his opinion that Leo is “a moderate and temperate soul [who] will not flatten difference but order it to service; inviting all to the same table, and calling it to be accountable in love.” Towell also stressed the pope’s commitment to truth, which I see evidenced in his initial greeting’s focus on the truth of Christ’s love and the infinite peace of this truth, which triumphs over all evil. It seems we find in Pope Leo a profound bridge between the theologian and the pastor. 

“With you I am a Christian”

So far, our new pope has been vocal on a number of issues that reflect his initial statement on peace, building bridges, and the need for unity. Since occupying the Chair of Peter, he has identified artificial intelligence as a key threat to humanity, advocated for the release of imprisoned journalists and the importance of press freedom, and cited St. Augustine to underscore his service-oriented role as Vicar of Christ: “With you I am a Christian, for you a bishop.” His first Sunday Regina Caeli address, given on Good Shepherd Sunday, focused on the terrors of war. Referring to current world relations as “the tragedy of a third world war in pieces,” our pope expressed pain over the death and suffering wrought by violence. As we continue to mourn Pope Francis’ passing, the beauty of his spirit is reflected in these initial encounters with Pope Leo, who follows his predecessor’s orientation towards love, peace, and justice.

Augustinian Spirituality in Our Lives

We may all benefit from Pope Leo’s Augustinian roots as we aim to strengthen our connections, listen carefully, share our resources, and truly commune with those both like and unlike ourselves. To deepen our faith, we can look to the contemplative intellect of the Augustinians for guidance and inspiration–carving out moments for prayer, embracing the quiet in our hearts and minds, and seeking opportunities for understanding. Equally important is seeking opportunities to give, to help, and to support those who most need mercy, justice, and assistance. No matter how helpless we may feel, we can indeed meet the urgent need for unity head on in a variety of ways–through volunteer work, committed prayer, and other ordinary acts of love. May Pope Leo’s experience across multiple cultures and his Augustinian lens magnify the vitality of diverse communities, active prayer, and joyful service, offering a blueprint for our own faith-filled lives. As we continue to pray for Pope Leo, may we also ask ourselves to rise to the occasion of embracing this new pontificate’s mission, accepting Pope Leo’s invitation to walk with him in Christ–How can I live out the one heart, one soul motto in my life today and tomorrow? How can I seek God in all that I do? 

Pope Leo XIV’s formal inaugural mass will take place on May 18, the Fifth Sunday of Easter. You can watch for free on LiveNOW from Fox.

Lord, source of eternal life and truth, give to your shepherd a spirit of courage and right judgment, a spirit of knowledge and love. By governing with fidelity those entrusted to his care, may he, as successor to the Apostle Peter and Vicar of Christ, build your Church into a sacrament of unity, love and peace for all the world. Amen.
Prayer via EWTN. 

Join in listening to papal conversations and reflections through “A Resounding Yes!” podcast. We will explore expert insight on the legacy of Pope Francis, and join together in prayer for our Holy Father Pope Leo XIV. Listen through our website, or your favorite listening platform such as Spotify or Apple Podcasts.

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Writer and editor Franci Revel Eckensberger holds a Master of Fine Arts in Poetry from Cornell University. With years of experience as a copyeditor for academics, fellow writers, and various small businesses, she takes pride in maintaining clarity, consistency, and beauty in each client’s voice. 

Franci finds grace and insight in the Catholic Church’s rich relationship to language and invites that relationship to influence both her literary and editorial work. Saint Cecilia and Catherine of Siena continue to play a vital role in her journey to the faith as an artist. She lives in coastal Delaware with her husband.