Cardinal Robert Prevost, the primary U.S. pope within the 2,000-year historical past of the Catholic Church, beforehand led a Catholic spiritual order.
Prevost, 69, who selected the identify Pope Leo XIV, was previously the prior normal, or chief, of the Order of St. Augustine, which was fashioned within the thirteenth century as a neighborhood of “mendicant” friars — devoted to poverty, service and evangelization.
The necessities and ethos of the order are traced to the fifth century St. Augustine of Hippo, one of many theological and devotional giants of early Christianity.
The Order of St. Augustine has a presence in about 50 nations, in accordance with its web site. Its ethos features a contemplative spirituality, communal residing and repair to others.
A core worth of their rule is to “live together in harmony, being of one mind and one heart on the way to God.”
A spiritual order is a neighborhood of Catholics — which might embody clergymen, nuns, monks and even lay folks — devoted to a specific sort of mission and spirituality. In contrast to diocesan clergymen, who work inside a specific territory, religious-order clergymen is likely to be assigned wherever on this planet. On the identical time, they may deal with duties much like diocesan clergymen, akin to being pastor of a parish.
Father Joseph Murray was a roommate of the brand new pope’s in Chicago in 2014.
“He was delightful to person to live with, he is committed to the gospel, committed to missionary work of the church,” Murray stated.
Father Murray’s church, St. Nicholas of Tolentine within the Bronx, is now adorned in celebratory papal bunting.
The Order of Saint Augustine was based in 1244 and its worshippers are identified for his or her communal life, devotion to prayer and repair ministries, like training and parish hospitality.
“I know he’s family, he is Christian, he is an Augustinian and he’s a humble man,” stated Juan Dones, a parishoner from the Bronx.
Murray stated the announcement of the brand new pope was an thrilling second. Members of the church had been within the kitchen collectively once they realized his identification.
“I will have to begin to learn to call him Pope Leo because I would always call him Father Bob, or Bishop,” Murray stated. “Pope Leo I’m sure will be wonderful leader for us in the coming years.”
What number of popes have been a part of the Order of Saint Augustine? What number of popes have been Augustinians?
Pope Francis was the primary pope from the Jesuit spiritual order, and he was the primary pope in additional than a century and a half to come back from any spiritual order. The earlier one was Gregory XVI, a Camaldolese monk (1831-1846). In all, 34 of the 266 popes have belonged to non secular orders, in accordance with America, a Jesuit journal.
Additionally in accordance with the journal, there had been six Augustinians to grow to be pope earlier than Leo XIV.
