Latest news with #OrderofSt.Augustine
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Pope Leo XIV is the first member of the Order of St. Augustine to be elected pope – but who are the Augustinians?
When Pope Leo XIV was elected pope, the assembled crowd reacted with joy but also with surprise: He was the first pope from the United States, and North America more broadly. Moreover, he was the first member of the Order of St. Augustine to be elected to the papacy. Out of all 267 popes, only 51 have been members of religious orders. Pope Francis was elected in 2013 as the first member of the Jesuit order, the Society of Jesus; he was also the first member of any religious order to be chosen in over 150 years. As a specialist in medieval Christianity, I am familiar with the origins of many Catholic religious orders, and I was intrigued by the choice of a member of the Order of St. Augustine to follow a Jesuit as pope. So, who are the Augustinians? In antiquity, some Christians chose to lead a more perfect religious life by leaving ordinary society and living together in groups, in the wilderness. They would be led by an older, more experienced person – an abbot. As monks, they followed a set of regulations and guidelines called a 'monastic rule.' The earliest of these rules, composed about the year 400, is attributed to an influential theologian, later a bishop in North Africa, called St. Augustine of Hippo. The Rule of St. Augustine is a short text that offered monks a firm structure for their daily lives of work and prayer, as well as guidelines on how these rules could be implemented by the abbot in different situations. The rule is both firm and flexible. The first chapter stresses the importance of 'common life': It instructs monks to love God and one's neighbor by living 'together in oneness of mind and heart, mutually honoring God in yourselves, whose temples you have become.' This is the overriding principle that shapes all later instructions in Augustinian rule. For example, Chapter III deals with how the monks should behave when out in public. They should not go alone, but in a group, and not engage in scandalous behavior – specifically, staring at women. If one monk starts staring at a woman, one of the other monks with him should 'admonish' him. If he does it again, his companion should tell the abbot first, before any other witnesses are notified, so that the monk can try to change his behavior on his own first, so as not to cause disruption in the community. Because of this clarity and flexibility, its concern for both the community and the individual members, many early religious communities in the early Middle Ages adopted the Rule of St. Augustine; formal papal approval was not required at this time. By the end of the 12th century, Western Europe had become much more urbanized. In response, a new form of religious life emerged: the mendicant friars. Unlike monks who withdrew from ordinary life, mendicants stressed a life of poverty, spent in travel from town to town to preach and help the poor. They would beg for alms along the way to provide for their own needs. The first mendicant orders, like the Franciscans and Dominicans, received papal approval in the early 13th century. Others were organized later. A few decades later, several hermits living in the Italian region of Tuscany decided to join together to form a new mendicant order. They chose to follow the Rule of St. Augustine under one superior general; Pope Innocent IV approved the new order as the Order of Hermits of St. Augustine in 1244. Later, in 1254, Pope Alexander IV included other groups of hermits in the order, known as the Grand Union. The new order grew and eventually expanded across Western Europe, becoming involved in preaching and other kinds of pastoral work in several countries. As European countries began to explore the New World, missionary priests took their place on ships sent from Catholic countries, like Spain and Portugal. Augustinians were among these early missionaries, quickly establishing themselves in Latin America, several countries in Africa and parts of Southeast Asia and Oceania, arriving in the Philippines in the 16th century. There, they not only ministered to the European crews and colonists, but they also evangelized – preached the Christian gospel – to the native inhabitants of the country. Augustinian missionaries started the process of setting up Catholic parishes and, eventually, new dioceses. In time, they founded and taught in seminaries to train native-born men who wanted to join their order. It wasn't until the end of the 18th century that Augustinian friars arrived in the United States. Despite many struggles and setbacks in the 19th century, they established Villanova University in Pennsylvania and other ministries in New York and Massachusetts. Except for two 17th-century missionaries, Augustinian friars didn't arrive in Canada until the 20th century, when they were sent from the German province of the order to escape financial pressure from the economic depression of the 1920s and political pressure from the Nazis. Today, there are some 2,800 Augustinian friars in almost 50 countries worldwide. They serve as pastors, teachers and bishops, and have founded schools, colleges and universities on almost every continent. They are also active in promoting social justice in many places – for example, in North America and Australasia, comprising Australia and parts of South Asia. Based on his years as a missionary and as provincial of the entire order worldwide, Leo XIV draws on the rich interpersonal tradition of the Order of St. Augustine. I believe his pontificate will be one marked by his experiential awareness of Catholicism as a genuinely global religion, and his deep concern for the suffering of the marginalized and those crushed by political and economic injustice. This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit, independent news organization bringing you facts and trustworthy analysis to help you make sense of our complex world. It was written by: Joanne M. Pierce, College of the Holy Cross Read more: Christianity has long revered saints who would be called 'transgender' today 'The pope is Peruvian!' How 2 decades in South America shaped the vision of Pope Leo XIV Pope Leo XIV: Why the College of Cardinals chose the Chicago native and Augustinian to lead the church after Francis Joanne M. Pierce does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
All the Things to Know About the Pope—and Things You Don't
The life of Robert Prevost, now Pope Leo XIV, came into focus Friday as the world digs into the past of the first American leader of the Catholic Church. Leo, 69, grew up on Chicago's South Side and had a childhood like many Americans before he moved up the church ranks. He was ordained a priest in 1982 after joining the Order of St. Augustine, and he spent two decades as a missionary in Peru. Now he's possibly the most famous man in the world. Here are some things to know about him. A longtime family friend of Leo described him as a 'die-hard' Chicago White Sox fan who even attended a World Series game in 2005, the last time the franchise won a championship. He was photographed at the World Series game wearing a Sox jersey and smirking as he held a cellphone to his ear. His older brother, John Prevost, corrected erroneous reports, including one from ABC News, that emerged Thursday claiming the pope was a fan of his hometown's other MLB team, the Chicago Cubs. 'He was never, ever a Cubs fan,' Prevost clarified. 'So I don't know where that came from. He was always a Sox fan.' The pope even took time out of his busy first hours to clear up the confusion, with The Washington Post reporting he texted the Augustinian friar Joseph Farrell a one-word answer when asked about his fandom: 'Sox.' The National Catholic Reporter reported that Leo has Spanish, Italian, French, and African-Creole ancestry, with his mom's side descending from a Black community in New Orleans. Citing U.S. Census records, the outlet said his mother, Mildred Martínez, was the mixed-race daughter of Black property owners in New Orleans who moved to Chicago in the early 20th century. Joseph Martínez, his grandfather on his mother's side, was reportedly born in Haiti, and his grandmother, Louise Baquié, was a Creole. Leo has not spoken publicly about his ancestry, but the National Catholic Reporter writes that it may lead to him being known as the 'first Black pope in the history of the Catholic Church.' John Prevost, Leo's older brother, said the new pope is the youngest of three who had a 'normal childhood' together. They were raised Catholic by a school superintendent father and a school librarian mother in Chicago's Dolton neighborhood. John Prevost, a 71-year-old retired Catholic school principal, told the Daily Herald he always desired a career in education while their eldest sibling, Louis, wanted to join the military. Leo, meanwhile, 'knew he was going to be a priest from the time he could walk,' John Prevost said. Others recognized that Leo was 'papabile' early on, too. 'A neighbor once said he was going to be pope someday,' Prevost said. 'How's that for a prognostication?' Records show Leo voted in Republican primaries in 2012, 2014, and 2016, but only voted in the general elections in 2018 and 2024. Matt Knee, the chief data officer at conservative data science firm Pulse Decision Science, told the Daily Beast the pope's voting record fits the profile of a 'former or Never Trump-type ex-Republican.' His recent social media posts back up that theory, as Leo recently criticized Vice President JD Vance by name on his X account and reshared a post critical of President Donald Trump. 'JD Vance is wrong,' Leo posted in February. 'Jesus doesn't ask us to rank our love for others.' His brother John Prevost further confirmed Leo's beliefs in an interview with The New York Times on Friday. 'I know he's not happy with what's going on with immigration,' Prevost said. 'I know that for a fact. How far he'll go with it is only one's guess, but he won't just sit back. I don't think he'll be the silent one.' Leo is the first American pope, but Vatican insiders say his path to the papacy was partly because he was the 'least American' of the 10 U.S. cardinals eligible to vote for the next pontiff. This description first emerged in the Italian newspaper La Repubblica, which noted Leo had extensive experience outside the U.S. and is perceived as having a softer, more globalized approach than his American counterparts. Leo was not among the favorites to emerge as pope entering the conclave, as much of the world, including bookmakers and Vatican experts, projected it would be either the Filipino Luis Antonio Tagle or one of the well-known Italian cardinals, like Pietro Parolin, Pierbattista Pizzaballa, or Matteo Zuppi. CNN's Vatican correspondent Christopher Lamb said this week that the late Pope Francis 'respected' Leo 'and thought of him very highly.' Francis appointed Leo to be a cardinal in 2023, assigning him the title Diaconate of Saint Monica. 'Clearly Pope Francis saw in him something—he saw him as a capable leader,' said Lamb, who added that Leo came across as 'a very thoughtful person, a very measured person.' Other Francis supporters have pointed to Leo's victory—and the speed with which it was reached—as proof that Francis left the church united. 'It is clear from the speed with which Pope Leo's election was done that Pope Francis had left the church more united than naysayers would give him credit for,' the British Cardinal Arthur Roche told CNN. Leo speaks English, Spanish, French, Italian, and Portuguese, and can read Latin and German, according to the National Catholic Reporter. That will allow him to speak the native tongue of most of the 1.4 billion Catholics worldwide, whom he is now tasked with leading. The pope showcased his language skills in his first address at the Vatican, speaking to a massive crowd at St. Peter's Square in Spanish and Italian, but not English. He delivered a Mass on Friday in English, Spanish, and Italian, however, and is sure to continue showing off his polyglot prowess. A native English speaker, of course, Leo likely perfected his Spanish while working as a missionary for two decades in Peru, a South American nation he became a dual citizen of in 2015. The pope is a Wildcat. In 1977, Leo graduated from Villanova University, a Catholic institution in Philadelphia known for the success of its men's basketball team, with a bachelor's degree in mathematics. That would be the end of his formal STEM studies, however. Leo went on to earn a 'Master of Divinity' from Catholic Theological Union in Chicago in 1982, the same year he was ordained a priest. He also earned licentiate (1984) and doctorate (1987) degrees in canon law from the Pontifical College of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome. Leo's brother John Prevost told the Daily Herald that he explicitly advised his brother not to choose the name Leo if he won the papal election. The reasoning, Prevost explained, was his own misrecollection of Vatican history. 'He said, 'What should my name be?'' Prevost said, recalling a call he had with Leo on the eve of the conclave. 'We started rattling off names just to rattle off names. I told him it shouldn't be Leo because it will be the 13th. But he must've done some research to see it's actually the 14th.' Leo told the Augustinian Order after he became a cardinal in 2023 that, even in his late 60s, he plays tennis when he can find the time. 'I consider myself quite the amateur tennis player,' he said. 'Since leaving Peru I have had few occasions to practice, so I am looking forward to getting back on the court [laughs]. Not that this new job has left me much free time for it so far.'
Boston Globe
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Boston Globe
Pope Leo, taking helm of a divided church, urges unity
Advertisement Pope Leo, an American who has Peruvian citizenship, also said in his homily, that 'I was chosen, without any merit of my own, and now, with fear and trembling, I come to you as a brother.' He added that he wanted 'us all to be united in one family.' The morning also marked Leo's first steps into a global role. He met Sunday with President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine, which he said, 'awaits negotiations for a fair and lasting peace,' called for peace in Myanmar and urged the world not to forget those 'reduced to hunger.' Vice President JD Vance, who had a contentious meeting in the White House earlier this year with Zelensky, was also in attendance and shook hands briefly with the Ukrainian leader before the Mass began. After the Mass, Vance, who the White House called 'the first Catholic convert,' to serve in the position, briefly shook the pope's hand in a long receiving line of dignitaries and royals. Advertisement It was unclear whether he would receive a private audience before returning to the United States Monday. But the focus of the day was the official beginning of Leo's ministry in a day filled with ancient and symbolic rituals, some of which visibly affected him. Leo, the former Cardinal Robert Prevost, who after his election May 8 has still been signing his emails as Bob, took a spin around a packed St. Peter's Square as crowds of people chanted his name, and captured the moment on upraised camera phones. He then went into St. Peter's Basilica and descended to what tradition holds is the tomb of St. Peter to pray. He later emerged on the basilica's steps to celebrate the Mass. A cardinal fitted his finger with the fisherman's ring used as his seal. Leo, seemingly choked up, paused to look at his hand. He also took on symbolic vestments that underlined his role as the church's good shepherd and stood before symbolic rites of obedience from lay Catholics and clerics. Framing his mission by echoing Jesus' role as a 'fisher of humanity in order to draw it up from the waters of evil and death,' he returned to the priority of Francis, his predecessor, that the church keep to its evangelizing mission. Still, he said, it 'is never a question of capturing others by force, by religious propaganda or by means of power,' but through love. Advertisement The new pope added that a pastor, like Peter, the first pope, needed to be close to 'the flock without ever yielding to the temptation to be an autocrat, lording it over those entrusted to him.' He said the church needed to be animated by a 'missionary spirit' and 'not closing ourselves off in our small groups' or 'feeling superior to the world.' But Leo emphasized the idea of a 'coexistence of diversity' within what he called a 'united church' — an idea central to St. Augustine. The new pontiff joined the Order of St. Augustine as a young man and eventually led its global operations from its headquarters just outside St. Peter's Square. This was a message many of the cardinals wanted to hear, after periods of division in the church. But many wanted to make sure Leo's view of unity did not mean going backward, and that the new pope's vision included Francis' inclusive spirit. Supporters of Francis say they feel assured that his welcoming legacy is now safe. On Sunday, Leo reiterated that he sought a 'unity which does not cancel out differences but values the personal history of each person and the social and religious culture of every people.' Beyond the church, Leo said, 'we still see too much discord, too many wounds caused by hatred, violence, prejudice, the fear of difference, and an economic paradigm that exploits the Earth's resources and marginalizes the poorest.' Marilyn Heller, a lawyer from Long Island, NY, had tears in her eyes after the Mass. 'A pope from the United States,' she said, adding that she felt a new era had begun. 'I feel like there is some new energy in the church.' Advertisement This article originally appeared in .
USA Today
18-05-2025
- General
- USA Today
Pope Leo XIV is the first Augustinian pontiff. Here's what the religious order means
Pope Leo XIV is the first Augustinian pontiff. Here's what the religious order means Show Caption Hide Caption Who is Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, the new pope? Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost has been named the first ever pope from the U.S. and will go by the name Leo XIV. Formerly known as Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, Pope Leo XIV became the first-ever pope born in the United States on May 8. The 69-year-old, who hails from Chicago but has dual Peruvian nationality after spending most of his career as a missionary in Peru, became a cardinal in 2023. "Peace be with you all," he told the cheering crowd in fluent Italian. Leo, who became the church's 267th pope, also spoke in Spanish, but not English, in his brief address. Leo thanked Pope Francis and repeated his predecessor's call for a church that is engaged with the modern world and "is always looking for peace, charity and being close to people, especially those who are suffering." Pope Leo XIV is a man of many firsts; apart from being the first American-born pope, he is also the first pope to be an Augustinian. Those who do not practice Catholicism may not know what this means. Here is what you need to know about the Order of St. Augustine. What is an Augustinian? According to the Augustinian Vocations of North America, Augustinians are members of the Order of St. Augustine. 'We serve God and His people in diverse ministries as pastors, educators, and missionaries,' the vocations website said. The order was born juridically in March 1244, when Pope Innocent IV united various groups of hermits in service to the Universal Church as a community of Mendicant Friars. The core values of this order are to "live together in harmony, being of one mind and one heart on the way to God." "The main purpose for you having come together is to live harmoniously in your house, intent upon God in oneness of mind and heart," the Rule of St. Augustine reads. "Call nothing your own, but let everything be yours in common. Food and clothing shall be distributed to each of you by your superior, not equally to all, for all do not enjoy equal health, but rather according to each one's need. For so you read in the Acts of the Apostles that 'they had all things in common and distribution was made to each one according to each one's need.'' How many Augustinians are there? The Order of St. Augustine includes some 2,800 Augustinians in 47 countries throughout the world. Contributing: Greg Giesen, Delaware News Journal Fernando Cervantes Jr. is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach him at and follow him on X @fern_cerv_.
GMA Network
18-05-2025
- General
- GMA Network
Cardinal Tagle: Pope Leo XIV has a capacity to listen, brings calm and warmth
Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle recently spoke about Pope Leo XIV, his experience of the conclave, and reflected on the legacy of the late Pope Francis. In an interview with the Vatican News, the Pro-Prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization shared his experience at the recent conclave and his thoughts of the new Vicar of Christ and late Pope Francis. During the Papal Conclave at the Sistine Chapel, Tagle and Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost actually sat next to each other. A week after Pope Leo XIV's election, the two met once again at a private audience. 'I first met Pope Leo XIV in Manila and in Rome when he was still the Prior General of the Order of St. Augustine. We worked together in the Roman Curia starting in 2023. He has a deep and patient capacity for listening and engages in careful study and reflection before making a decision. The Pope expresses his feelings and preferences without imposing them. He is intellectually and culturally well-prepared, but without showing off. In his relationships, Pope Leo brings a calm warmth, shaped by prayer and missionary experience,' the cardinal described the new pope said when asked about the new pontiff. Prior to the Conclave, with concerns of a divided Church and cardinals with unclear ideas about choosing a new Pope, Tagle shared his thoughts on his second Conclave, his second after 2013. 'Before any major, global event, you hear speculation, analysis and predictions--and a conclave is no different. I have participated in two conclaves which I count as a real grace. In the conclave of 2013, Pope Benedict XVI was still alive, while in the conclave of 2025, Pope Francis had passed into eternal life. We should bear in mind the difference in context and atmosphere. While each of the two conclaves was a unique and unrepeatable experience, some elements remain constant. He added. ' In 2013, I wondered why we had to wear choral attire during the conclave. Then I learned and experienced that a conclave is a liturgical event - a time and space for prayer, for listening to God's Word, the stirrings of the Holy Spirit, the groanings of the Church, humanity and creation, for personal and communal purification of motivations, and for worship and adoration of God, whose will must reign supreme. Both Pope Francis and Pope Leo were elected on the second day. The conclave teaches us, our families, parishes, dioceses, and nations that communion of minds and hearts is possible if we worship the true God.' Being in such close proximity, Tagle shared how Cardinal Prevost reacted when the 2/3 majority vote was reached, two days after the Conclave began. 'His reaction alternated between smiling and breathing deeply. It was holy resignation and holy fear combined. I silently prayed for him. The moment he got the required number of votes, a thunderous applause erupted, (much like at the election of Pope Francis). The Cardinals expressed joy and gratitude for their brother, Cardinal Prevost. But it was also an intimate moment between Jesus and him, which we could not enter nor disturb. I said to myself, 'Let holy silence envelope Jesus and Peter.' As an Asian, Tagle said the new American-Peruvian pope brings a 'unique face' to his larger flock. 'Without denying the primacy of grace in the ministry of Pope Leo, I believe that his human, cultural, religious and missionary background will give a unique face to his ministry. But this is true of all Popes. The Petrine ministry of strengthening brothers and sisters in the faith in Jesus, the Son of the living God, remains the same—but each Pope lives and exercises it through his unique humanity. Pope Leo's multi-continental and multi-cultural background will surely help him in his ministry and benefit the Church. The people of Asia love the Pope as Pope, whichever country he comes from. He is loved not only by Catholics, but also by other Christians and followers of non-Christian religions.' Tagle the papabile As a potential pope or 'papabile' himself, Tagle admitted the experience brought its own set of challenges, especially being the focus himself. 'As someone who does not enjoy being put in the limelight, I found the attention rather unsettling. I tried to muster spiritual and human strength in order not to be affected. I meditated a lot on the words of the apostolic constitution Universi Dominici Gregis concerning 'the grave duty incumbent on (the Cardinals) and thus on the need to act with right intention for the good of the Universal Church, "solum Deum prae oculis habentes.' As the one month anniversary of Pope Francis' death approaches, the Filipino cardinal reflects on his legacy. 'My heart is gladdened by the numerous testimonies given by the Catholic faithful, non-Catholic Christian communities and members of non-Christian religions about the teaching and legacy of Pope Francis. I hope these testimonies continue to grow and be 'gathered' as part of our understanding not only of Pope Francis but also of the Petrine ministry. For my part, I would highlight his gift of humanity—of being human to others—which marked his Pontificate. If you have a personal story to tell about him, share it. Our world needs to rediscover and to nurture the beauty and worth of being authentically human. Pope Francis, through his simple and even frail humanity, has contributed immensely to this search, not for his own glory, but for the greater glory of God, who in Jesus became fully human,' he said. —RF, GMA Integrated News
