Spirituality: Tidbits about Pope Francis

Here are some facts about our new Pope. Born in Chicago, Illinois, 69 years old, remains a White Sox fan. At age 69, it is likely that he will be Pope for at least 25 years, health permitting. 

He was born on the feast of the Triumph of the Holy Cross, September 14th. He has been a Cardinal for nearly one and a half years, having been named in September 2023. Attending Villanova University and was a mathematician. He entered the Augustinians who run universities like Villanova, but also Assumption University in Worcester and Merrimack University, north of Boston. The Augustinians were founded in 1244 C.E. in Tuscany to follow the rule of St. Augustine as monastic communities.

Religious order priests like the Augustinians, Jesuits, and Franciscans take vows of poverty, obedience, and chastity, a counter-cultural witness to religious life that is distinct from parish priests. Augustinians are known for their pastoral work, commitment to missions, and education. 

As Bishop Prevost, he has the head of the powerful office of the College of Bishops, that oversees the vetting and appointment of bishops. He also administered difficult decisions as head of this office by heading investigations into various dioceses, including sexual abuse cases and improper management. 

 As a missionary, he became familiar with the People of God in Latin America and has dual citizenship - USA and Peru. He spend 20 years in Peru and it is likely that the Latin American Cardinals stood up for him during his election. His name of Leo XIV gives homage to Leo XIII, who wrote the encyclical on worker’s rights, Rerum Novarum, which is a foundational text for Catholic social teaching. 

 The pope declared that the role of the state is to promote justice through the protection of rights, while the church must speak out on social issues to teach correct social principles and ensure class harmony, calming class conflict. He restated the church's long-standing teaching regarding the crucial importance of private property rights, but recognized, in one of the best-known passages of the encyclical, that the free operation of market forces must be tempered by moral considerations. 

 He speaks English, Latin, and Spanish, and has spent more time outside the U.S. than within. He is known as a skilled politician who can bring about unity, peace-making, and bridge-building. A core belief of the Augustinians is to “live together in harmony, being of one mind and one heart on the way to God.” His Papal motto is: 'In the one [Christ we are] one.' 

 Pope Leo XIV is a close collaborator of Pope Francis, and his active participation in implementing the Pope's vision for a synodal and inclusive Church underscores his strong alignment with Francis's reforms. He will set his own course distinct from Pope Francis, and he will continue the legacy of Francis as a prophet speaking out for the poor and the marginalized. His first words to the world were also about peace, which is so needed in our world. “Peace and dialogue without fear” were part of his first address to the City and the World. We can all rejoice.