Pope urges fellow Augustinians to work for unity as he opens their assembly

"Pope Leo XIV urged his fellow Augustinians on Monday to work humbly for unity in the Catholic Church, as he opened the global assembly of the ancient religious order that is now very much in the spotlight since one of their own is history's first Augustinian pope. Leo has emphasized that he is very much a child of St. Augustine, the 5th-century theologian who inspired the 13th-century religious Augustinian order as a community of mendicant friars."

"Today, Augustinian spirituality is rooted in a deep interior life of prayer, living in community, and journeying together in search of truth in God. The pope, who headed the order from 2001-2013, seemed very much at home among his confreres gathered at the Basilica of St. Augustine off Piazza Navona, which houses the tomb of Augustine's mother, St. Monica. Aware that not everyone in the pews spoke Italian, Leo summarized his homily for them in English. He joked that over the coming days, as they gather for their global meeting, they might want to pray to the Holy Spirit for help understanding one another."

"Not necessarily for the gift to understand or speak all languages, but the gift to listen, and the gift to be humble and the gift to promote unity within the order and through the order throughout the church and the world, Leo said. Every few years, religious orders convene these general assemblies, with elected representatives coming to Rome to chart their future paths, priorities and elect new leaders. Leo, the then-Rev. Robert Prevost, recalled the novelty of his final assembly as prior general in 2013."

Augustinians were urged to work humbly for unity in the Catholic Church and to cultivate listening, humility, and the gift to promote unity. Augustinian identity centers on St. Augustine's influence and a spirituality rooted in interior prayer, communal living, and seeking truth in God. The order's global assembly convened at the Basilica of St. Augustine near St. Monica's tomb, with representatives meeting to chart futures, set priorities, and elect leaders. General assemblies occur every few years, bringing elected delegates to Rome. A prior general recalled inviting a newly elected pope to celebrate an opening Mass in 2013.

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