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‘Austin’ is a shortened form of ‘Augustine’: The new Holy Father in Rome has long belonged to the Order of Saint Augustine in Roman Catholicism
By Henry H. Bucher, Jr., Faculty Emeritus in Humanities, Austin College
May 10, 2025
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For the first time, the Pope is from North America(USA) and South America (Peru). Pope Leo XIV spent a third of his life in Peru and was given citizenship. The late Pope Francis belonged to the Jesuit Order of Roman Catholicism. Pope Leo XIV has long been active in the Order of Saint Augustine—an Order that honors Augustine of Hippo (354—430 ACE). Hippo is today, Annaba, Algeria.

 

Augustine did not make a virtue of poverty, but of sharing. In the thirteenth century, the papacy threatened hermit groups that informally followed the teachings of Augustine, based on their lack of antiquity. They responded by making a special point that they received their rules from Saint Augustine. They were still loosely connected until 1255 when Pope Alexander IV issued a call for them to unite under the Order of Saint Augustine.  One major focus was, and still is, on mission.       

 

Sent by their provincial Thomas of Villanova,* the first Spanish/Castilian Augustinians went to Mexico in 1533. Spanish Augustinians first arrived in Peru in 1551, which was their base for mission in most other South American countries.  Today, members of the Order of St. Augustine serve in 50 countries.  The new Pope Leo XIV is the first Augustinian to become the Holy Father in Rome. The Order of Saint Augustine has the status of a non-governmental organization with the United Nations.

 

The world awaits with a positive spirit to welcome our new Pope.

 

*Pope Leo XIV graduated from Villanova University, USA.

 

Thanks to Wikipedia for some of the data used in this op-ed.