UNIVERSITY OF SAN AGUSTIN ILOILO
Thanksgiving Mass for the Election of Pope Leo XIV (16 May 2025)
The Thanksgiving Mass offered in honor of the election of Pope Leo XIV celebrates the ascent to the Petrine ministry. It is a preordained journey of faith and service of an Augustinian friar to the papacy, after becoming the first son of St. Augustine to be elevated to the office as the Supreme Pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church. When the papal news broke out on social platforms a common phenomenon called FILIPINO CONNECTION started its way into several camps and individuals determining the ties they’ve had with the person. It usually occurs among Filipinos seeking to find the interconnection between circumstances and persons, especially those who have achieved a remarkable status. It is like a network of persons sharing commonalities and relationships bound by kinship, affiliation, shared identity and heritage.
Many scrambled in search for memorabilia like photos, vestments, bedroom where he stayed; or recalled moments spent with him such as stories of encounter, a shared meal or a casual conversation, concelebrations or assistantship in the Holy Mass, etc. Several of us started unearthing an old photo with the then Prior General Prevost and downloaded them on social media mostly on FB. (So it’s best to keep your photo files secure — you never know, someone you’re acquainted with might become a prominent figure someday!) For some, they recalled anecdotes and stories transpired on his canonical visits, institutional and liturgical activities he spearheaded. Another friar narrated how the former Prior General observed the Filipino practice of mano – kissing of hand – as an expression of respect to elders and authorities. The former said once they meet again, he would still allow the latter, now a pope to kiss his hand being his former Prior in the general curia community.
We are immensely proud and honored as Filipino Augustinians to know him and have met and interacted with him sometime in the past, so we want to highlight that connection or relation or occasion we had. It is perfectly great to recollect moments of close and personal encounter with the former leader of the Augustinian Order. For some of us, indeed, have developed deep ties with him after a record of 9 visits to the Philippines (2002-2013) which coincided with his 2 consecutive terms as Prior General.
In my case, while I was on further studies in Rome, he was then on his first term as Prior General. Aside from common celebrations of major feasts and activities, I had the privilege to meet him together with some friars on the tennis court of the curia compound. The occasions are numerous to mention but we set our attention on the entire journey thus far – we focus on the pope as a person whom we personally know with great affection.
Having known him commands referential descriptions: he possesses the characteristic of a respectable man, humble and intelligent, with serene demeanor yet approachable, generally systematic in his ways but an effective pastoral person, an exemplary missionary leader, and for some, a dear Father Prevost or brother Bob. Perhaps the most conspicuous identifying mark is that he normally wears a unique smile that connects to people and comforts them with confidence and trust. The interaction essentially opens to an exchange of brilliant and edifying ideas. It warms the heart and spirit, that the encounter becomes a mutual engagement of dignified persons. And this is one of the qualities the cardinal electors saw and experienced with him. His appearance and manner of dressing simply revolve into 3 attires: the clerical dress, religious habit and the casual polo. He takes whatever is served before him for he is exposed to diverse cultural expressions, beliefs and practices as a missionary. He is relatable to persons from different walks of life, possesses the communication skill that brings reassurances because he has the heart for the people in the mission communities, in the Order, and the Church. For us Augustinians, we lovingly acclaim Pope Leo XIV as ONE OF US!
Truly he is one of us! The degree of relations is depending on the loop you claim to have cherished now that he is the Holy Father. The amount of familiarity and personal knowledge we keep however, demands a corresponding degree of responsibility to repurpose by aligning one’s way of life – thinking, acting, and doing things – to the values he represents in his life’s journey and most especially as the Roman Pontiff of positive acceptance rate. Gradually, the euphoria and jubilation subside, it is necessary to realize that as the Pope, he is the shepherd of the whole Church, he is no longer exclusively the Augustinian priest or Prior General we know. He now belongs to the Universal Church and ministers to the rest of the world as a spiritual leader. As a loving gesture, we pray for his ministry with strong emphasis on unity, communion, participation, peace and justice, compassion, solidarity with the marginalized and suffering.
The foregoing perspective finds direct connection in the 1st Reading (Acts 13:26-33) from risen Christ appeared to his disciples – “who are now witnesses before the people.” For us in our generation, we too are witnesses of the journey of Pope Leo for we have known him, we have interacted with him, we are closely connected and affiliated to him. Giving witness can be demanding, even scary for any follower. The Gospel reading (Jn. 14:1-6) encourages us, “Do not let your hearts be troubled.” Or in the comforting words of St. Pope John Paul II: “Non avete paura.” The first words of Pope Leo during his Urbi et Orbi message, “Peace be with all of you” which echoes the greeting of the Risen Christ in his post resurrection appearances to his apostles and disciples. The words articulate the triumph of Christ over lesser destructive forces that “evil will not prevail” for Christ is with us as “the way, the truth and the life.” Pope Leo XIV assures that “God loves us all, and we are in God’s hands.” The apostle Thomas inquires, “Master, we do not know where you are going; how can we know the way?” His questioning implies stages wherein we experience crossroads in our journey that may be a situation of disgrace, discouragement, heavy burden, hopelessness, or a tipping-point circumstances which at the same time a crucial turning block – a transition period that promises and redeems.
The pope’s invitation is a message of continuity and moving forward together as one Church and people. Transitioning to a synodal mindset and way of life with the greeting and admonition, “Peace be with you!” Coraggio! (Have courage!) The greeting is one of encouragement, protection, and it signifies the presence (I am with you) and love of God for his faithful people. “Peace be with all of you” is also a blessing that is oriented to the future stages of the journey – it is associated with a mission, where one is commissioned and sent off to a bigger reality of one’s personhood and calling. Pope Leo XIV states, “It’s about moving forward with God and with one another as followers of Christ who goes before us.” This is the ministry of the pope, the mission of the Church and the vocation each one of us received as Christians and disciples of Christ.
“Peace be with you” these are the first words uttered by Pope Leo XIV. And this is also the mark of his pontificate which builds on the foundation of faith, unity, service, and understanding towards the building of lasting peace and justice among us and in the world of nations and peoples. That the hope for true peace and justice emanates from the heart, as St. Augustine exhorts us that the Interior Teacher or Master resides in us and inspires us to be united with God and his plan. The holy desire of our life is therefore PEACE and not happiness as we sometimes aspire to possess. Happiness is but the byproduct of peace. Peace is our hallmark identity and dignity as human beings. Above all, this is the hope of every human heart that looks up to God, as co-creator of the God of love and goodness who put peace and order in the creation of things.
In conclusion, enunciating from the beginning of our reflection the concept of CONNECTION, we are called now and onward to ACTION. Finding our connection with the Pope, this propels us to action as a community of believers, synodal church, pilgrim people of hope – walking together in the service of Christ the Lord under the leadership, guidance and inspiration of the Vicar of Christ, Papa Leone XIV. Viva il Papa! Deo gratias! Amen.
