09/05/2025
"Although Prevost is an American, and will be fully aware of the divisions within the Catholic Church, his Latin American background also represents continuity after a pope who came from Argentina. The Vatican described him as the second pope from the Americas, as well as the first Augustinian pope."
Let us all pray for Pope Leo XIV, and for all priests and nuns of the Augustinian Order.
In the quiet of a hall in Sydney during the 2008 World Youth Day, Augustinian communities from around the globe gathered for the Augustinian Youth Encounter (AYE)โa celebration of faith, youth, and shared heritage. Among them were members of the Augustinian Sisters of Our Lady of Consolation (ASOLC), including Sr. Joan Infante, OSA. Alongside Sr. Joan were Sr. Jocy Widwid, Sr. Gavina Barrera, Sr. Magdalena Tallafer, and Sr. Josie Mabiniโall part of the Philippine delegation.
Sr. Joan was helping prepare the sacred space for the Eucharistic celebration when a figure quietly entered the room. It was Fr. Robert Prevost, OSAโthen Prior General of the Augustinian Order. โHe walked in with no announcement, no entourage,โ Sr. Joan recalls. โJust a simple friar, calm and unassuming.โ
Now known to the world as Pope Leo XIV, Fr. Robertโs humility stood out even then. โHe didnโt carry himself with the weight of his title,โ Sr. Joan shares. โHe was approachable, kind, and deeply grounded. It was Augustinian humility in the flesh.โ
What followed next was a moment of shared humanity that no one expectedโbut everyone cherished.
In a spontaneous gesture, Fr. Robert knelt in front of the sistersโnot out of formality, but in pure lightheartedness. The sisters, bursting into laughter and surprise, extended their hands over him in mock blessing, teasingly playing along. The photos captured from that moment are priceless: laughter, joy, and a sense of spiritual siblinghood beyond roles and ranks.
โIt was such a real moment,โ Sr. Joan says. โHe made us feel like family. Thatโs who he wasโnot a distant superior, but a brother in Christ.โ
These images and memories have taken on new meaning today. The humble friar they once laughed with is now the Popeโthe spiritual father to over a billion Catholics. Yet for the ASOLC sisters, that encounter remains a reminder of the kind of leadership the Church needs: one rooted in relationship, joy, and humility.
โIn a world where power often overshadows service,โ Sr. Joan reflects, โPope Leo XIV reminds us that greatness lies in simplicity and compassion.โ
She believes his papacy is an invitation for Augustinian institutions to deepen their commitment to justice and integral formation. โMay we, inspired by his example, expand our outreach and let the values of St. Augustine animate every classroom, every project, every encounter.โ
As they now look back at those joyful photos, one truth becomes clear: they once laughed with a pope among themโand they carry that joy as a blessing for the Church today.
๐ธ Photos in the comments section.