Former Cumbrian school pupil shares delight as friend becomes Pope
Father Ian Wilson OSA is the assistant general to the Order of St Augustine in Rome, with responsibility for Northern Europe. The Augustinian is a former pupil of Austin Friars school at Carlisle where he boarded from 1965 to 1973, following a move from Scotland when his father changed jobs.
The Austin Friars trustee has a special place in his heart for his former home. He often comes back to visit his brother Gordon near Seascale, and sometimes gives mass at St Joseph's Church, in order to assist the parish priest Father Peter Groody.
Father Ian first met the new Pope Leo XIV (born Robert Francis Prevost) at the Augustinians international student house in Rome, when Prevost began as a student in 1981.
The pair have known each other on and off throughout the years, and the former Austin Friars pupil was even present when Prevost received the 'red hat' and became a cardinal back in 2023.
Speaking about their first meeting, Father Ian said: "We have an international student house called St Monica's and I was here studying basic theology for ordination to priesthood. Robert Prevost came as a student to do a licence in Canon law.
Pope Leo and Fr Ian on the day the Pope was made a cardinal back in 2023. (Image: Supplied)"We were two or three years together in Rome and then he became our Prior General in from 2001 to 2013. That's our 'boss man' so I would have contact with him various times and various places during that period."
Over the last two and a half years, Ian said he and his fellow Augustinians have seen the new Pope (a cardinal at the time) 'almost every day'. He said: "He's just very simple, doesn't make any fuss or bother, he is very much an Augustinian."
The Friar believed there will be a 'certain continuity' following on from Pope Francis, with a focus on supporting the poor and world peace to be 'central' in the reign of Pope Leo.
Speaking about the new Pope, Father Ian said: "He has always been a very pleasant person to be around, he was sitting opposite me at lunch the day before he went into the Conclave, and conversation with him is always very good, easy and interesting.
"He likes a joke, he likes a laugh, he is a man who can relax, but at the same time he is also a very focused man."
Father Ian was in the Piazza when the Pope came out onto the balcony, and said the atmosphere was full of 'anticipation and excitement' whilst the packed out square awaited the new Pope.
"It was strange, he was sat next to me on the Tuesday, went into the Conclave on the Wednesday and came out onto the balcony as Leo XIV on the Thursday," he said.
"When we heard the news it was very emotional. My eyes filled up with tears, tears of joy, we are exceptionally proud of him and it was a very exciting time.
"People recognised us as Augustinians at the square and were congratulating us."
Pope Leo XIV visited Father Ian and his colleagues in the Augustinian Curia on Tuesday, May 13 just days after his appointment as Pope Leo, to celebrate Mass and then have lunch with the group. It is hoped that Father Ian and his fellow Augustinians will be in attendance at the inauguration mass this coming Sunday, May 18.
Carlisle also has strong connections to the Augustinian Friars.
Carlisle Cathedral was initially founded as an Augustinian Priory, and Austin Friars is the only Augustinian school in the UK, with nearby Lanercost Priory also used to house a community of Augustinian canons in the mid-1100s.
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