Augustinians remember Prevost’s many visits to Asia

The religious family to which the new pontiff belonged, and which he led as Prior General for 12 years, has a long history of missionary presence on the Asian continent, beginning with the Basilica of Santo Niño in Cebu. Fellow Augustinians in India and Indonesia describe him as "a deeply spiritual man, capable of truly listening." His coat of arms features a phrase from Augustine and the order's emblem: a burning heart pierced by an arrow above a book.

Milan (AsiaNews) – The new pope, Leo XIV, comes from the Order of Saint Augustine, where he served as Prior General for 12 years. This large religious family, comprising over 2,500 priests and consecrated laypeople in 50 countries, has a rich missionary history in Asia. It is little surprise, then, that across the continent many communities today fondly recall visits and encounters with Robert Prevost, the cardinal chosen by the conclave to succeed Pope Francis in leading the Church.

The roots of the Augustinian presence in Asia trace back to the Philippines, where the first missionaries arrived from Mexico in 1565, settling in Cebu, the city home to the revered image of the Santo Niño, whose basilica they still care for today. From there, their presence spread to many other Asian countries, including India, China, Thailand, Vietnam, Japan, South Korea, and Indonesia.

In a statement from Manila, the provincial of the Order in the Philippines, Fr Dante M. Bendoy, described the election of Leo XIV as “a divine blessing, not only for the Order of Saint Augustine, but for the whole universal Church.” Fr Robert Prevost visited the Philippines in September 2010 for the Intermediate General Chapter. “He left a lasting impression on us,” the Philippine prior said. “We remember his warm presence, the Mass he celebrated with us, his humility. While his election is a great gift, it also brings with it challenges: a cross to carry for the good of the Church.”

Pope Leo XIV visited India twice during his time as Prior General: in 2004 and 2006, when he travelled to various Augustinian communities in Kerala and Tamil Nadu. During his first visit in 2004, he spent over a week at the Augustinian houses in Mariyapuram, Aluva (in the Archdiocese of Verapoly), and Edakochi (in the Diocese of Cochin), both located in Kerala’s Ernakulam district. On 22 April 2004, he concelebrated the priestly ordination Mass of six Augustinian deacons alongside then-Archbishop Daniel Acharuparambil in St Francis Xavier Church, Kathrikadavu, Kaloor district. He returned to Mariyapuram in October 2006 to attend the Asia-Pacific Gathering of the Order of Saint Augustine, held in Aluva.

“He was an incredibly simple person, down-to-earth and always ready to adapt,” recalled Fr Jacob Mullassery, who accompanied him during both visits. “He never asked for special treatment. He travelled in small vehicles and had no hesitation staying in modest rooms with basic facilities in Aluva and Edakochi. His humility touched us all deeply.”

Fr Metro Xavier described him as “a deeply spiritual man” who “spent a great deal of time in silent Eucharistic adoration. He showed profound love for the Church and deep respect for its magisterium.” Fr Wilson Injerappu, Regional Vicar of the Augustinians in India, expressed both joy and hope: “Having an Augustinian as the Holy Father is a great blessing for us. It also reminds us of our responsibility to pray constantly for him and support his mission with our prayers and sacrifices.”

Augustinians in Indonesia also remember his visit to their communities in 2003. Fr Jan Pieter Fatem, current head of the “Totus Tuus” Vicariate in Papua-Indonesia, called him “a true Augustinian, who enthusiastically lived the communal life. To me, he is a simple, wise man, full of love and a good listener. Among us, he was often considered a walking manual of Augustinian spirituality.” Appropriately, the symbol of the order—the burning heart pierced by an arrow, resting on a book—features prominently on Prevost’s episcopal coat of arms, alongside the motto In Illo uno unum (“In the one Christ we are one”), echoing the words of Saint Augustine from his commentary on Psalm 127.

Sr Felisitas, an Augustinian nun from the province of West Kalimantan, recalled informal meetings with him during the World Augustinian Youth Encounter in Londa and another gathering in Sydney. “He is a person with a strong sense of hospitality, always wearing a warm smile. For all Augustinians around the world, he is truly a man of prayer.”