Latest news with #Augustinians'
San Francisco Chronicle
13-05-2025
- General
- San Francisco Chronicle
Pope Leo XIV visits the headquarters of his Augustinian order
ROME (AP) — Pope Leo XIV celebrated Mass and had lunch with members of his Augustinian religious order on Tuesday, slipping into the congregation's headquarters outside St. Peter's Square where he served for 12 years as superior. 'The atmosphere was of great fraternity," said the Rev. Gabriele Pedicino, head of the Augustinians' Italian branch. 'You really always have to practice and remember that he is now the pope, because he puts you at ease and has this closeness that always impresses me.' Leo was seen arriving in a black vehicle at around lunchtime at the Agostinianum, the pontifical institute that also serves as the Rome-based residence and headquarters of the Order of St. Augustine. Leo left shortly before 3 p.m. The ethos of the order, which includes a contemplative spirituality, communal living and service to others, is traced to the fifth-century St. Augustine of Hippo, one of the theological and devotional giants of early Christianity. The former Rev. Robert Prevost, history's first American pope, was twice elected superior of the order, serving as general prior from 2001-2013. The order was formed in the 13th century as a community of mendicant friars — dedicated to poverty, service and evangelization and inspired by the saint. Ever since his May 8 election, Leo has repeatedly emphasized that he's a 'son of St. Augustine' and quoted from the saint. He visited an Augustinian-run Marian sanctuary south of Rome on Saturday in his first outing as pope, and during his first greeting to the world, Leo wore a pectoral cross given to him by his order that contained relics of St. Augustine. Leo, the first Augustinian pope, has also kept as his papal coat of arms and motto "In Illo uno unum.' The words were pronounced by St. Augustine in a sermon to explain that 'although we Christians are many, in the one Christ we are one.' The emblem on the coast of arms is that of the Augustinian order: a pierced flaming heart and a book, representing the Scriptures. Pedicino said that he expected Leo to apply Augustine's teaching about communion and unity in diversity in his new ministry as pope. 'Diversity isn't a danger or something negative,' he said of Augustine's teaching. 'So I think the pope will work so that inside the church and out, the 'other' is increasingly seen not as a danger if different, but as someone to love and who enriches our life and makes it more beautiful.' ___
Boston Globe
08-05-2025
- Boston Globe
Will Pope Leo end the clergy sexual abuse crisis?
In other words, as bad as things may be in the United States, they are worse elsewhere in the world. Get The Gavel A weekly SCOTUS explainer newsletter by columnist Kimberly Atkins Stohr. Enter Email Sign Up For example, the US Catholic Church has a zero-tolerance policy, requiring the permanent removal of priests proven guilty of child sex abuse. Meanwhile, 'universal Catholic Church law still lets bishops reinstate proven and admitted child molesters to parish posts and other ministries,' she noted. In addition, four-fifths of the 178 US bishops publish the names of credibly accused clergy. 'None provide sufficient detail, and all are incomplete — and yet we've seen nothing close to this level of disclosure by bishops anywhere else in the world,' she wrote. How much the experiences of the US Catholic Church will influence the new pope in dealing with clergy sexual abuse is, of course, unknown. Advertisement Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost — now Pope Leo — was never a bishop of a US diocese, Barrett Doyle noted, so while he would know about the policies of 'zero tolerance' and public disclosure, he was not subject to them. On a positive note, however, one victim of an abusive Catholic cult in Peru said he was responsive and helped get the cult dissolved. 'It was a stunning and extremely rare outcome,' Barrett Doyle said. Not long after white smoke emerged from the Sistine Chapel chimney on Thursday, signaling that a pope had been chosen, SNAP — Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests — According to SNAP, as provincial of the Augustinians in Chicago, he allowed Father James Ray, a priest then accused of abusing minors whose ministry had been restricted since 1991, to reside at the Augustinians' St. John Stone Friary in Chicago in 2000, 'despite its proximity to a Catholic elementary school.' When he was bishop of Chiclayo in Peru, three alleged victims reported to civil authorities that there was no movement on their canonical cases, and these alleged victims have since claimed that he failed to open an investigation and sent inadequate information to Rome. Because of that, SNAP filed a complaint against him on March 25, 2025. Advertisement SNAP is now calling for decisive action from the new pope in his first 100 days, including a universal zero-tolerance law and a Global Survivors Council with the authority to oversee and enforce compliance. As SNAP put it to the new pope: 'You can end the abuse crisis — the only question is, will you?' For survivors, their advocates, and everyone who wants the church to finally do the right thing — faint hope is better than no hope. Joan Vennochi is a Globe columnist. She can be reached at
Miami Herald
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Miami Herald
Pope Leo XIV, born in Chicago, is the first American pontiff
VATICAN CITY -- Robert Francis Prevost was elected the 267th pope of the Roman Catholic Church on Thursday and took the name Pope Leo XIV, becoming the first pope from the United States and defying the conventional wisdom before the conclave that any American would be a long shot to become pontiff. A puff of white smoke from a chimney above the Sistine Chapel signaled that the cardinals sequestered inside for two days had elected a new leader of the world's 1.4 billion Roman Catholics. As pope, Leo XIV will confront difficult decisions about the church's direction, chiefly whether to continue the agenda of his predecessor, Pope Francis, who championed greater inclusion and openness to change until his death last month, or forge a different path. The cardinals reached their decision after being in conclave for a little more than 24 hours and after several rounds of voting. The group of 133 cardinals, the most ever to gather in a conclave, included many who were appointed by Francis and some who did not know one another. That had made reaching a quick consensus a serious challenge, given the broad group of contenders and the splits among them about the future of the church. Despite his American roots, Cardinal Prevost, a 69-year-old, Chicago-born polyglot, is viewed as a churchman who transcends borders. He served for two decades in Peru, where he became a bishop and a naturalized citizen, then rose to lead his international religious order. Until the death of Francis, he held one of the most influential Vatican posts, running the office that selects and manages bishops globally. A member of the Order of St. Augustine, 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.' He has spent much of his life outside the United States. Ordained in 1982 at age 27, he received a doctorate in canon law at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome. In Peru, he was a missionary, parish priest, teacher and bishop. As the Augustinians' leader, he visited orders around the world, and speaks Spanish and Italian. Often described as reserved and discreet, he would depart stylistically from Francis as pope. Supporters believe he will most likely continue the consultative process started by Francis to invite laypeople to meet with bishops. It is unclear whether he will be as open to LGBTQ+ Catholics as Francis was. Although he has not said much recently, in a 2012 address to bishops, he lamented that Western news media and popular culture fostered 'sympathy for beliefs and practices that are at odds with the Gospel.' He cited the 'homosexual lifestyle' and 'alternative families comprised of same-sex partners and their adopted children.' He, like many other cardinals, has drawn criticism over his dealings with priests accused of sexual abuse. This article originally appeared in The New York Times. Copyright 2025
Time of India
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Leo XIV: Conclave elects first American Pope, Robert Francis Prevost, in the Vatican
Robert Francis Prevost was elected the 267th pope Thursday by 133 cardinals to lead the world's 1.4 billion Roman Catholics. The first pope from the United States, he chose the name Leo XIV. Robert Francis Prevost, 69, was born in Chicago and served for two decades in Peru, where he became a bishop and a naturalized citizen, then rose to lead his international religious order. Until the death of his predecessor, Francis, he held one of the most influential Vatican posts, running the office that selects and manages bishops globally. A member of the Order of St. Augustine, 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." He has spent much of his life outside the United States. Ordained in 1982 at 27, he received a doctorate in canon law at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome. In Peru, he was a missionary, parish priest, teacher and bishop. As the Augustinians' leader, he visited orders around the world. He also speaks Spanish and Italian. Show more Show less
New York Times
02-05-2025
- Politics
- New York Times
There's Never Been a Pope From the U.S. Could This Cardinal Change That?
For betting types, the conventional wisdom says not to put your money on a pope from the United States. Yet one American some Vatican watchers say could scrape together enough votes is Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, 69, a Chicago-born polyglot who is viewed as a churchman who transcends borders. He served for two decades in Peru, where he became a bishop and a naturalized citizen, then rose to lead his international religious order. He now holds one of the most influential Vatican posts. As ideological camps tussle over whether to continue Pope Francis' inclusive agenda or return to a conservative doctrinal path, supporters of Cardinal Prevost pitch him as a balanced alternative among the papabili, as likely candidates for the papacy are known. The Rev. Michele Falcone, 46, a priest in the Order of St. Augustine previously led by Cardinal Prevost, described his mentor and friend as the 'dignified middle of the road.' The cardinal 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.' Rather, he said, a church leader is 'called authentically to be humble, to be close to the people he serves, to walk with them, to suffer with them.' Cardinal Prevost, appointed by Francis in 2023 to run the Vatican office that selects and manages bishops globally, has spent much of his life outside the United States. Ordained in 1982 at age 27, he received a doctorate in canon law at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome. In Peru, he was a missionary, parish priest, teacher and bishop. As the Augustinians' leader, he visited orders around the world, and speaks Spanish and Italian. The cardinal understands that the center of the Roman Catholic Church 'is not in the United States or the North Atlantic,' said Raúl E. Zegarra, assistant professor of Catholic theological studies at Harvard Divinity School. Given Cardinal Prevost's international experience, knowledge of the United States and work inside the Vatican hierarchy, said Marco Politi, a veteran Vatican analyst in Rome, 'if he were not American, this would make him automatically a papabile, certainly.' Cardinal Prevost, who is often described as reserved and discreet, would depart stylistically from Francis, who until his death last month drew roaring crowds and stopped to bless a baby against his doctors' advice. 'He does not have excesses,' Father Falcone said of Cardinal Prevost. 'Blessing babies, yes. Taking them in his arms, no.' Supporters of the cardinal said they expected him to continue the consultative process started by Francis to invite lay people to meet with bishops. 'I know that Bob believes that everybody has a right and a duty to express themselves in the church,' said the Rev. Mark R. Francis, a former classmate of Cardinal Prevost who runs the American arm of the Clerics of St. Viator, a religious order. Whereas Francis said, 'Who am I to judge?' when asked about gay clerics, Cardinal Prevost has expressed less welcoming views to L.G.B.T.Q. people. In a 2012 address to bishops, he lamented that Western news media and popular culture fostered 'sympathy for beliefs and practices that are at odds with the gospel.' He cited the 'homosexual lifestyle' and 'alternative families comprised of same-sex partners and their adopted children.' As bishop in Chiclayo, a city in northwestern Peru, he opposed a government plan to add teachings on gender in schools. 'The promotion of gender ideology is confusing, because it seeks to create genders that don't exist,' he told local news media. While praised in Peru for supporting Venezuelan immigrants and visiting far-flung communities, the cardinal has drawn criticism over his dealings with priests accused of sexual abuse. One woman in Chiclayo who said she and two other women were sexually abused by two priests as girls long before Cardinal Prevost was bishop accused him of mishandling an investigation and of not stopping one of the priests from celebrating Mass. The diocese of Chiclayo said Cardinal Prevost opened an investigation that the Vatican closed. After a new bishop arrived, the investigation was reopened. Supporters of Cardinal Prevost say he is the target of a smear campaign by members of a Peruvian-based Catholic movement that Francis disbanded. In Chicago, activists say his office did not warn a nearby Catholic school that a priest who church leaders determined had abused young boys for years was sheltered in a monastery nearby starting in 2000. As head of the Midwestern order of Augustinians at the time, Cardinal Prevost would have approved the priest's move to the monastery. Attempts to reach Cardinal Prevost for this article were not successful. Friends of the cardinal say he speaks carefully. Compared with Francis, his language is 'more serene,' said the Rev. Alejandro Moral Antón, Cardinal Prevost's successor as Augustinian leader. Where Francis might immediately speak his mind, Cardinal Prevost 'holds himself back a bit,' Father Moral Antón added.
