SOURCE :- THE AGE NEWS
There was a celebratory mood at St Augustine’s College in Sydney’s Northern Beaches on Friday morning, as the news spread that one of their own had been named the next leader of the Catholic Church.
“It is the greatest honour that we could receive,” college chaplain Father Senan Ward of the appointment said.
Not only is Leo XIV the first pope from the order of Saint Augustine, according to Vatican News, but he was a regular visitor to Australia during his time as leader of the order from 2001 to 2013, with many local Augustinian leaders considering him a personal friend.
Pope Leo XIV, then prior general of the Order of Saint Augustine, speaking at St Augustine’s College Brookvale in 2009.Credit: St Augustine’s College
While Pope Francis never made it to Australia, before or during his papacy, Robert Prevost’s position saw him travel to the about 50 countries where the order has a presence. That includes at least four known visits to Australia, where he developed a great love of Tim Tams, and a hatred of Vegemite.
Sydney Archbishop Anthony Fisher said it is “very likely” the newly elected Pope will visit Australia, with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese already extending an invitation to the International Eucharistic Congress in Sydney in 2028.
St Augustine’s College welcomed the future pope to its Brookvale campus twice, in 2008 and 2009.
Religious Education teacher Margaret McElhone recalled the visits, remarking that Prevost’s “humility and willingness to spend authentic time in community was appreciated by all who met him”.
(Now) Pope Leo XIV celebrating mass at Sydney’s Collaroy Beach in 2008.Credit: St Augustine’s College
Prevost’s first visit in 2008 coincided with Pope Benedict XVI’s visit to Australia for World Youth Day, during which he gave a scenic Mass at Sydney’s Collaroy Beach. He returned a year later, speaking at a college assembly and presenting sports awards.
College captain Jayden Kirby said the appointment created a “connection for all of us to the larger church”, while year six student Phillip Hall added that he thought it was “pretty cool” that a pope had visited his school.
Father Peter Jones, the prior provincial, or leader, of the order of Saint Augustine in Australia, told Nine that he was “full of gratitude and happiness” that his friend of 40 years had been chosen, calling his surprise appointment “quite extraordinary”.
“He was always a person consistent in terms of his human warmth, his kindness, his concern for the rights and dignity of all,” Jones said.
“That’s how we have known him, and he’ll now bring those qualities to the service of the church and the world.”
The Augustinian Order was founded in 1244 for followers of St Augustine of Hippo, one of the theological and devotional giants of early Christianity, whose goal was to “live together in harmony, being of one mind and one heart on the way to God”.
There are two Australian Augustinian schools, St Augustine’s College in Sydney and Villanova College in Brisbane. The five Augustinian parishes around the country include two in Sydney: North Harbour Parish in Manly Vale and Holy Spirit Parish in St Clair, where Pope Leo once presided over Mass.
The order’s presence in Australia dates back to the 1838 arrival of Augustinian James Alipius Goold, who later became the founding Archbishop of Melbourne.
Get a note directly from our foreign correspondents on what’s making headlines around the world. Sign up for our weekly What in the World newsletter.
