By David Austin OSA
A plethora of books have been published on Pope Leo XIV since his election as Pope. Many have naturally focused on the fact that he is an American – indeed one book is subtitled ‘The American Pope’.
His years of service in Peru have also been treated extensively. Perhaps, understandably, these books give little attention to his connection with Australia.
Pope Leo was, in fact, a frequent visitor to Australia during his time as Prior General of the Augustinian Order.
Between 2002 and 2010, he visited Australia six times, meeting parishioners in Augustinian parishes in NSW, Victoria and Queensland, as well as meeting students and staff in schools conducted by the Augustinians. Memories of those visits flooded back to many people here when they heard he was elected Pope.
The recently published book, Introducing Pope Leo XIV: His Story and Australian Connection, tells the story of these visits to Australia. Many photos taken during these visits are also included. In word and image, we meet the man – Fr Bob Prevost – who a decade later would become Pope.
The book begins with a brief outline of Pope Leo’s life, from his birth in Chicago, USA, to his many years of ministry in Peru, his work as Prior General and his activities as Bishop and Cardinal in the service of the Universal Church.
The book also explores key elements of the spirituality bequeathed to the Church by St Augustine, pivotal for Pope Leo XIV who described himself in his opening address to the world as “an Augustinian, a son of St Augustine”.
His Papal motto In Illo uno unum (In the One Christ We are One) is taken from St Augustine’s sermon on Psalm 127.
Written by Fr Dave Austin OSA, a former Provincial of the Augustinians in Australia and current Prior and Assistant Priest at Holy Spirit Church, St Clair Parish, in Western Sydney, the book was launched in St Kieran’s Parish, Manly Vale, NSW, by the present Provincial, Fr Peter Jones OSA.
Published by St Pauls Publications, it is available from Catholic bookshops, or direct from St Pauls Publications https://secure.stpauls.com.au/strathfield/introducing-pope-leo-xiv-his-story-and-australian-connection.html
