Pope Leo XIV’s Legacy of Listening, Remembered by His Augustinian Brothers

Genesis Labana, OSA

Among the sea of pilgrims gathered in St. Peter’s Square on the afternoon of May 8, 2025, waiting patiently and prayerfully for the white smoke, stood a small but tightly knit group: the Augustinian friars from the General Curia and the Collegio Internazionale Santa Monica. When Cardinal Protodeacon Dominique Mamberti finally appeared and declared, “Habemus Papam!”, the Augustinians needed no further introduction.

They instantly recognized the new pope: Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, O.S.A.—their confrere, brother, and friend.

Jubilation broke out among them. They jumped and shouted, overwhelmed with both joy and disbelief. The man who had often joined them for prayer, meals, and quiet conversations in the Augustinian complex—home to the General Curia, Collegio Santa Monica, and the Patristicum—was now the 267th pope of the Catholic Church: Pope Leo XIV.

Though his new role may place him at the helm of the global Church, those who lived and worked with him over the years remember him first and foremost as a brother in the community. In a series of interviews, several Augustinians shared personal memories of encounters with the former cardinal—simple moments that, in hindsight, speak volumes about his character and leadership.

“How Are You?” – A Listener Among Brothers

It may seem unremarkable at first, but the phrase “How are you?” is what many friars recall most vividly when thinking of Pope Leo XIV. It was a question he asked often—and with genuine interest. When he asks this question, it becomes an invitation to be heard—an opportunity that many Augustinians embraced to share their experience of brotherhood.

Fr. Barnaby R. Johns, O.S.A., prior provincial of the Augustinians in California, remembers crossing paths with Cardinal Prevost around Easter 2024. “He came up to me and asked how I was,” he said. “It was a short exchange, but it felt sincere. He had a way of making you feel heard.”

Fr. Andres Felipe Romero, O.S.A., a student-priest from the Province of Nuestra Señora de Gracia in Colombia, shared a similar memory. As a newcomer to Rome and still learning Italian, he attended a gathering at Santa Ana Parish inside the Vatican. Feeling out of place and isolated, he was surprised when Cardinal Prevost approached him and struck up a conversation—in Spanish.

“That moment stayed with me,” said Fr. Felipe. “It was comforting. He asked how I was doing and inquired about the brothers back in Colombia. It felt like family.”

For Fr. Amiel Alvarez, O.S.A., of the Province of the Most Holy Name of Jesus in the Philippines, the encounter came in an unexpected place—the Poste Italiane. Sitting beside each other while renewing documents, they exchanged casual conversation.

“He asked about my studies and mentioned his visits to the Philippines as Prior General,” said Fr. Amiel. “It was all very natural. He never carried himself like someone above us. He was just a brother.”

A Familiar Presence in Community

Fr. Alexander Lam, O.S.A., Vicar General of the Order, described Cardinal Prevost’s presence in the community with warmth: “He often came for the recitation of Lauds, Mass, lunch, and even just for a coffee or a bit of wine with the confreres.”

Jokingly, another friar, Fr. Ian Wilson, O.S.A., also a Vicar General, added, “We couldn’t get rid of him!” underscoring how much the former cardinal valued fraternity and connection.

Now residing within the Vatican, Pope Leo XIV may have a new address, but his character remains unchanged. Those who meet him today will likely have the same experience: a pope who looks you in the eye and asks sincerely, “How are you?”

Fr. Joseph Farrell, O.S.A., also Vicar General, captured it best: “He’s an excellent listener.”

Fr. Peter Donohue, O.S.A., President of Villanova University, echoed this sentiment: “He’s very personable, he enjoys being around people… and he has a wonderful way of engaging with them. That will be important as he works to bring people together.”

Just as the Augustinian emblem inscribed into his papal insignia—a heart resting on a book—symbolizes both wisdom and compassion, Pope Leo XIV embodies this balance: listening with the heart and responding with prudence.

A Word That Inspires: “Be Available”

Fr. Claudio Zambrano, O.S.A., from Colombia and vice rector of the Santa Monica Community, shared a particularly formative moment with Cardinal Prevost when he began his role as secretary at the Pontifical Patristic Institute Augustinianum. The advice he received? Simple, but lasting: “One must be available in order to carry forward our mission of academic service.”

“That was the most meaningful advice I received,” Fr. Claudio said. “It helped me embrace my responsibilities and reminded me that this work is a service to the Order and to the Church.”

He later met Cardinal Prevost again outside the institute and shared how he became secretary. The future pope affirmed once more the value of availability—a readiness to serve without condition, especially in the context of academic and ecclesial mission.

A Son of St. Augustine, Always

During his first visit to the General Curia as Pope, on May 13—the Feast of Our Lady of Fatima—he shared heartfelt words with his confreres:

“I have renounced many things for this mission, but I have never given up being an Augustinian.”

For the friars of Collegio Santa Monica and the General Curia, that statement confirmed what they already knew. He may not anymore visit them randomly anytime but wanting that remains he will always be an Augustinian and a brother to the Order—deeply shaped by its spirituality, its communal life, and its emphasis on listening with the heart.

When Pope Leo XIV first appeared on the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, he introduced himself with the words:

“I am a son of St. Augustine.”

In that moment, for the Augustinians, it was not just history being made—it was fraternity being fulfilled.