From my Journal

Browsing through my Oregon journal, I share with you two funny stories related to fund-raising and church collections........

Volunteerism is one of the major hobbies of American women, and today I was invited to give a blessing at the St Elizabeth’s Auxiliary “Thank You Brunch,” held at the Hospital, which acknowledged the many women and men who volunteer their time to help, visit, assist and monitor so many activities that are done in our area, especially in the Hospital and Nursing Homes. After my Invocation I shared with them a story about the group of 60 ladies killed in a car crash on their way to Las Vegas.......when they arrived at the Pearly Gates of Heaven, they found out that there was no room for them, and so St. Peter called Satan in hell, and this is how the conversation went....

“Hey buddy, I got an unexpected group of 60 ladies but I don’t have room for them right now. Do you mind if you take them up for a few weeks, until I make room for them?”

“No problem, Peter, send them down here,” responded every so cordially Satan.

So down to hell they went. But after a few hours there, Satan calls frantically St. Peter and cries out to him, “Please, Peter, take them back, quickly, take them back........”

“Why, what’s the problem, “St Peter asked mystified.

“Well, with all the Bazaars, Book Sales, Cake Sales, and so much fund-raising they have already organized here, they’re just about ready to air-condition hell!”

And speaking of Las Vegas, I heard another true story that I meant to include somewhere in these memoirs. It’s a funny story which is true. In Las Vegas there is a Catholic Church “Guardian Angel church” and the people who attend Mass on Sunday give their contribution in chips, not in regular paper or coin money. So they have a $5 chip, $10 chip $20 chip, $50 chip and I’m sure much more, all from different Casinos, Mirage, Caesar’s, Bellagio, etc. Then on Monday morning, one of the monks of that Church goes around all the casinos, and exchanges the chips for the corresponding equivalent of the money. And do you know what they call that Monk, who goes around changing chips? Of course, what else? The ChipMonk ! (Chipmunk)

May Crowning

It was a custom in my US parishes that a statue of Mary is crowned during the month of May. We usually had a little girl crowning the statue with a garland of colorful flowers. It is not as common here in Malta, although there are plenty of statues and memorials dedicated to Mary during this month, the most popular of which is on May 13, the feast of Our Lady Fatima as well as the celebration of Our Lady of Pompeii celebrated on May 8, the day Pope Leo XIV was elected Pope and he actually acknowledged her feast day that day from the balcony of the Vatican basilica. The picture seen here is a statue in my last parish at St. Francis of Assisi in Bend, Oregon, just crowned by the children, followed by a few prayers, the recitation of the Rosary, my playing of the Ave Maria on the flute and also the transcription I made of the Gregorian Salve Regina, again on my flute. We pray that Mary continue to spread a message of love and peace among families, and especially among the people suffering so much in Ukraine, Gaza and the entire Middle East region.

Pope St Paul VI

Banner at Pope Paul VI's canonization, Oct 14, 2018.

The church honors today one of the recently-canonized saints, Pope Paul VI. Born on September 26, 1897 in Concesio, Italy, he was ordained priest on May 29, 1920, consecrated Bishop on December 12, 1954 and made a Cardinal on December 15, 1958. He succeeded St John XXIII as Pope on June 21, 1963. He spent most of his life in administrative work, being secretary to Pope Pius XII, an as Cardinal he was to lead Milan, one of the largest Archdiocese in the world. As successor of John XXIII he was to finish the Second Vatican Council and see to the implementation of many of the documents signed by the over 2200 bishops gathered in Rome. He was one of the modern Popes to travel outside Italy. He was canonized on October 14, 2018 by Pope Francis at the Vatican.

Altar boy Julian Cassar in August 1966 kissing the ring of a future saint

I was honored to be in Pope Paul VI’s presence in 1966 as an altar-boy chosen to serve at the Vatican. In the audience we had with the Pope, I kissed the ring of the Supreme Pontiff and a photographer snapped a photo which I will treasure forever. Out of 25 altar-servers only me and another boy had our picture taken in such a historic and memorable moment. In the audience he told us that whenever we became pastors to go to visit him again. Sadly he passed away in 1978, just a few months after my ordination.

Starting over

This picture conveys a very meaningful message to all those who have faltered and failed in whatever they planned to do in their life. We’ve been there – we’ve done that, probably more than once. Some dream that have fallen apart. An enterprise that malfunctioned. A road ahead that was suddenly blocked. A career that never took off. An initiative that was never encouraged and nurtured. A hobby that was never attended to and eventually abandoned. A mission that looked so encouraging, but fell apart. A journal started but was stopped because of laziness or just felt ‘too busy....’ A spiritual journey that was carelessly terminated. A target that was never reached. A huge oak tree that looked so strong and gave ample shelter from the sun, but was chopped down ruthlessly and carelessly – but a few years later, a sampling sprouted from the trunk. And it grew and grew as the oak tree was alive again. So it’s never to late to start all over when your dreams have floundered. Never, ever give up!

St Augustine of Canterbury

An Italian Benedictine monk who became the “Apostle of the English,” Saint Augustine of Canterbury is honored by the Catholic Church on his feast day today, May 27. Under the direction of Pope Saint Gregory the Great, Augustine founded the famous See of Canterbury and preached the Catholic faith to the country's Anglo-Saxon pagans during the late sixth and early seventh centuries. Most likely born in Rome to a noble family, he entered monastic life as a young man. The community he joined had been recently founded by a Benedictine monk named Gregory, who would go on to become Pope and eventually be known as St. Gregory the Great. The friendship between Gregory and Augustine had great historical consequences, as it was the Pope who would eventually send his fellow monk to evangelize England. Around 595, five years into his 14-year pontificate, Pope Gregory set to work on a plan for the conversion of the English people. The country was dominated by Anglo-Saxon invaders who did not accept Christianity, and so for this task the Pope chose a group of around forty monks – including Augustine, who became their leader. The group left for England in June 596, but some of the missionaries, including Augustine went back to receive more support. Back in England in 597 they gained an audience with King Ethelbert of Kent, a pagan ruler whose Frankish wife Queen Bertha was a Christian. Ethelbert would later convert, and eventually even be canonized as a Saint. He received the missionaries with hospitality, and permit them to evangelize without any restriction. They made their home in Canterbury, after dramatically entering the city in procession with the Cross and an image of Christ. The Canterbury community lived according to the Rule of St. Benedict, as they had in Italy, but they also preached in the surrounding area, including to Gaul, where he was consecrated as a bishop for the English Church. By Christmas of 597, over ten thousand people were actively seeking baptism from the missionaries. Both Gregory the Great, and Augustine died during the same year, 604. Augustine had given the faith a firm foothold among the Anglo-Saxons. Canterbury would continue on for centuries as the ranking see of English Catholicism, until its fall into schism during the 16th century when Protestantism broke away from the Catholic Church.

St Philip Neri

If one had to choose one saint who showed the humorous side of holiness that would be St. Philip Neri. Born in 1515 in Florence, he showed the impulsiveness and spontaneity of his character from the time he was a boy. His father was not successful financially and at eighteen Philip was sent to work with an older cousin who was a successful businessman. During this time, Philip found a favorite place to pray up in cave on a mountain that had been turned into a chapel. He then went to Rome in 1533 where he studied philosophy and theology until he thought his studies were interfering with his prayer life. He then stopped his studies, threw away his books, and lived as a kind of hermit. Night was his special time of prayer. After dark he would go out in the streets, sometimes to churches, but most often into the catacombs of St. Sebastiano to pray. He felt so filled with energy to serve God that he went out to work at the hospital of the incurables and starting speaking to others about God, everyone from beggars to bankers. In 1548 Philip formed a confraternity with other laymen to minister to pilgrims who came to Rome without food or shelter. The spiritual director of the confraternity convinced Philip that he could do even more work as a priest. After receiving instruction from this priest, Philip was ordained in 1551. At his new home, the church of San Girolamo, young men especially found in him the wisdom and direction they needed to grow spiritually. But Philip began to realize that these young needed guidance during their daily lives. So Philip began to ask the young men to come by in the early afternoon when they would discuss spiritual readings and then stay for prayer in the evening. The numbers of the men who attended these meetings grew rapidly. In order to handle the growth, Philip and a fellow priests built a room called the Oratory to hold them in.

Philip understood that it wasn't enough to tell young people not to do something -- you had to give them something to do in its place. So at Carnival time, when the worst excesses were encouraged, Philip organized a pilgrimage to the Seven Churches with a picnic accompanied by instrumental music for the mid-day break. After walking twelve miles in one day everyone was too tired to be tempted! In 1555, the Pope's Vicar accused Philip of "introducing novelties" and ordered him to stop the meetings of the Oratory. Philip was broken-hearted but obeyed immediately. The Pope only let him start up the Oratory again after the sudden death of his accuser. Eventually Philip decided it would be best for the group to have their own church. They became officially known as the Congregation of the Oratory, made up of secular priests and clerics. Philip was known to be spontaneous and unpredictable, charming and humorous. One of his men was Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina who wrote beautiful harmonic choral music and Masses. 

The wisdom of Goethe

Wolfgang Goethe was a famous German philosopher who gave us quite an impressive and useful recipe of how we can gain true happiness in our lives. He listed these 9 ingredients which are easily attainable if we really want to be happy always:

1. Strength enough so that you can work effectively and efficiently.

2. Wealth enough to cover your basic needs for survival.

3. Will-power enough to overcome your difficulties.

4. Grace enough to confess your sins and forget about them.

5. Patience enough to persevere in your endeavors as you try to help others.

6. Charity enough to recogize the good there is in others.

7. Love enough to motivate you to always be on the alert to help your neighbor.

8. Faith enough to do all this for the love of God.

9. Hope enough to get rid of all fear and anxiety about the future.

More on Mobile Phones

As a follow up on yesterday’s post, a friend of mine from Oregon USA , shared this information about an organization called Humanality which has launched clubs encouraging a smartphone-free college experience at six Catholic universities: Franciscan University, Christendom College, Ave Maria, University of Dallas, Benedictine, and Thomas Aquinas College. All students are required to give up their phones entirely for the duration of each semester. So far there has been an overwhelming and jaw-dropping response to this initiative.” Students and faculty are so aware of the problem with smartphones and digital addictions that just sharing about the Humanality clubs brings an excitement and desire to try to bring this movement to more universities and colleges. It has been demonstrated that there is a direct causal link between social media exposure and poor mental health outcomes for boy and girls. Self-harm amongst 10- to 14-year-old girls has quadrupled over the last 10 years. Suicide amongst boys and girls has sky rocked the last twelve years. Digital media affects the sexes differently. Andrew notes that women are more affected by social media itself, while men struggle more with video game addiction and pornography.

With half of U.S. children owning a mobile phone by age 11, and the surge in social media usage, has led to a concerning decline in happiness, with links to depression, anxiety, and more. Psychosexual development is also at risk, with pornography exposure affecting teen relationships and self-perception. Humanality clubs are committed to charting a more humane course, helping individuals navigate the modern age without being enslaved by it, and striking a balance that restores the essence of human living. On the ground, Humanality’s clubs have monthly meetings to share data and science on what phones and social media platforms are doing to us. What then? Go on a hike, hang with friends, go outside, read a book and do all these things without your phone. The people who designed these platforms and devices are not concerned with your wellbeing. Rather, they want your attention, and this is how they make money. Humanality clubs feature small groups so students can have deeper accountability with each other as they journey through the detox process. At the end of every school year, Humanality sponsors an on-campus concert for the students where the cost of admission for students is simply leaving their phone at the door. So they get to experience music without a screen!

The Mobile phone

A teacher in the USA once asked her class of 6th graders: Which is that modern invention you wish it had never been invented? One of the students wrote this note “If I can, I will destroy my parent’s cell-phone. This thought has often crossed my mind because my parents are always talking on their mobile phone. They spend a lot of time on Facebook, chatting, sending messages, photos, and other junk on WhatsApp or Instagram. They send emails and check constantly messages from their friends. And then when I have to speak to them they have no time for me, or they ignore my pleading. That’s why I hate the mobile phone !” These are heart-breaking words coming from a child who has everything, but actually has nothing, because his parents ignore him as they are so preoccupied with their friends. On the other hand some parents complain about their children spending hours on their cell-phones while ignoring them, avoiding eating with them as a family, disobeying their orders, while their school work is going down the drain. Maybe Albert Einstein was right when he said: “I’m afraid there’s gonna come a time in history when technology will destroy all kinds of relationship between us. Then we’ll end up with a generation that slowly, but surely, will self-destruct.”

Prayer to St Rita

Are you faced with a difficult problem? Does it seem insurmountable? The prayer to St. Rita of Cascia (1381-1457) shown below might help. After all, St. Rita is known as the “Saint of the Impossible,” and we honor her today, her liturgical feastday.

Early in life, she had a strong desire to be a nun, but got married instead, following her parents’ wishes. By all accounts, her husband was Mr. Wrong, an abusive man with whom she bore two sons of similar temperament. Apparently she had the patience of a saint because she prayed for them all and tried to be a dutiful wife and mother! After 18 years of marriage, her husband was murdered and her sons, vowing to take revenge, died of natural causes the following year. After that, St. Rita finally got her wish and was admitted to the convent of Augustinian nuns at Cascia. Tradition has it that the nuns there initially refused to let St. Rita join because she was a widow. One night Saint John the Baptist, St. Augustine and St. Nicholas of Tolentino opened gates that had been bolted shut and left her in the chapel of the convent. When the nuns found St. Rita there the next morning they understood God’s designs for her and accepted her unanimously. Talk about prayer opening doors! Many other miracles were attributed to St. Rita, both during her life and after her death. As an example, her devotion to Jesus in His Passion was such that a thorn from the crucifix in her room pierced her forehead one day while she was praying! The prayer to St. Rita also touches on that miracle:

Oh glorious St. Rita, who did miraculously participate in the sorrowful Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ, obtain for us the grace to suffer with resignation the troubles of this life, and protect us in all our needs. St. Rita, model wife and widow, you yourself suffered in a long illness showing patience out of love for God. Teach us to pray as you did. Many invoke you for help, full of confidence in your intercession. Come now to our aid for the relief and cure of (mention your request). To God all things are possible; may this healing give glory to the Lord. Through the prayers of St. Rita, may we learn to bear our crosses in life in the same spirit in which she bore hers. Amen.

Pope Leo in boots

As Bishop Robert Prevost in a flooded area in Peru

This was written by Jennifer Miranda, a native of Peru, who saw Robert Prevost as she wants the rest of  the world to know him.

A Pope in Muddy Boots: The Unmistakable Footprint of Leo XIV

He did not emerge from behind gilded curtains but from the muddy lanes of a flood-ravaged town in Peru. Long before he appeared on the Vatican balcony, Pope Leo XIV had already made his message clear — not with encyclicals, but with a pair of black boots and rolled-up sleeves.

In Peru, he walked through rising waters, not as a visiting dignitary but as one among the afflicted. He served food in a modest kitchen, not as an act of charity, but as a gesture of kinship.

These images — serving rice, listening to grief, walking through ruins — have already etched a theology more potent than sermons: one of proximity, presence, and shared humanity.

His chosen name — Leo — reaches back to another turning point in Church history. Pope Leo XIII, who gave voice to exploited workers in the age of industry, reshaped Catholic conscience with Rerum Novarum, the Church’s first social encyclical. Leo XIV inherits that legacy not merely in word, but in living example. If Leo XIII defended labor with his pen, Leo XIV affirms dignity with his hands and feet. He does not arrive to restore power but to restore nearness.

There is something unmistakable in his posture — less a ruler than a companion; not one who visits the poor, but one who understands what it means to be poor in spirit and circumstance.

His papacy will speak in the language of humble witness, not clerical command.

This is not leadership from above, but alongside.

Bishop Robert Prevost serving food to the poor in Peru.

At a time when the world teeters under the weight of nationalism, cruelty, and widening inequality — when brute strength is too often mistaken for vision — Leo XIV brings a different kind of authority: that of one who walks with, not over.

The word pontiff comes from pontifex — bridge-builder. With Leo XIV, the Church has perhaps found a man who can build bridges across our most painful divides: between privilege and poverty, doctrine and doubt, power and tenderness.

He may not shout reform. But his life already whispers revolution — the kind rooted not in strategy but in solidarity.

More to reflect on......

Talent will take us to high position in our career, but behavior will help us maintain the high position in the hearts of others.

Don’t stress over things you cannot change. Live simply, love generously, speak truthfully, and work diligently. And even if you fall short, keep going, keep growing.

God said ‘Don’t look around because you’ll be impressed. Don’t look down because you’ll be depressed. Just look at me and you’ll be blessed.’

Everyone has the same view. But not everyone has the same vision.

The older you get, the more you realize you have no desire for conflict, drama, or any kind of intense confrontation. You just want a cosy home, good food on the table, and being surrounded by lovely people that make you happy.

People don’t always need advice. Sometimes all they really need is  a hand to hold, an ear to listen, and a heart to understand them.

Speaking lips can reduce any problem, closed lips can avoid some of the problems, but smiling lips can solve many problems forever. Always keep smiling.

Happiness keeps you sweet, trials keep you strong, sorrow keeps you human, failure keeps you humble and God keeps you going.

Faith makes all things possible, Hope makes all things work, Love makes all things beautiful. May you have all three. Today and always.

May the Lord bless you with what you pray for, grant you what you hope for, and most of all surprise you with what you have not asked for.

Spending time with children is by far more important than spending money on children.

Faith is not knowing what the future holds, but knowing Who really holds the future.

A Marian Pope

Before giving his first blessing Urbi et Orbi from the Loggia of Blessings of St. Peter’s Basilica, Pope Leo XIV greeted the faithful and concluded with these words, “Our Mother Mary always wants to walk at our side, to remain close to us, to help us with her intercession and her love.’ 3 days later, at his first Regina Caeli on Sunday, Leo XIV ended his remarks by again referring to our Blessed Mother, seeking her intercession: “May the Virgin Mary, whose entire life was a response to the Lord’s call, always accompany us in following Jesus.” He then concluded by not reciting, but beautifully singing, the Regina Caeli. There is no doubt that our new Pope is Marian Pope. The day he was elected was a day that the Augustinian order remembers Mary in her title of Our Lady of Grace. While the order venerates the Blessed Mother under several titles, this one is the oldest, dating to the 13th century. Yet on May 8 in his first welcome, he told the thousands gathered in the square beneath him “Today is the day of the Prayer of Supplication to Our Lady of Pompeii.” And since at least the 15th century, Augustinians have had devotion to Our Lady of Good Counsel. In 1467, as they were renovating a village church, a miraculous image of Our Lady and the Child Jesus appeared on a wall. The image was named after the title of the parish church: Our Lady of Good Counsel. So it was fitting that, on the first Saturday (the day dedicated to Mary) of his papacy, Leo XIV went to pray at the Sanctuary of the Madre del Buon Consiglio (Mother of Good Counsel) in Genazzano, near Rome. Pope Leo XIV’s predecessor Leo XIII also had a strong devotion to Mary. He has the record for the number of encyclicals on the Holy Rosary — 12 in all. And in 1883 he declared the feast of Queen of the Holy Rosary. I have no doubt that one of these years we’ll see an encyclical form Leo XIV on the Blessed Mother, as I believe the last one was Redemptoris Mater by Pope John Paul II, issued in 1987.

The Pope's Coronation

Coronation of Pope Pius XII in 1939

Formerly, the coronation or enthronement ceremony included crowning the pope with the papal tiara or "triregnum," a golden crown composed of three overlapping crowns, a symbol of spiritual, temporal and supreme power. The last pontiff to wear it was Pope Paul VI in 1963, after which he decided he would give up its use, though he left it to his successors to reintroduce it. Today, Paul VI's tiara is kept at the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C. The papal tiara is made of gold, decorated with sacred images and precious stones. Pope Leo XIV will be crowned with the mitre instead of the tri-regnum. 

Pope Paul VI being crowned with a tri-regnum in 1963

The second item he will receive is the pallium, a strip of white wool with five red embroidered crosses, a symbol of pastoral mission and communion with the universal church: the pallium is woven by the Benedictine nuns of Santa Cecilia in Urbe in Trastevere, Rome. It is made from the wool of two lambs from Trappist monks, and the Pope would bless the lambs on Jan. 21, the feast of St. Agnes. The pallium is fastened with three pins resembling the nails of the cross, and is worn on the shoulders. All the Archbishops are given one to use when they celebrate Mass, and the crosses are in black. The fisherman's ring represents the link with St. Peter and the Pope's apostolic mission. The ring is made of pure gold, engraved with St. Peter's boat surrounded by the new pope's name. The ring was formerly used as a seal for papal documents, the ring is now a symbol that is broken, destroyed or cancelled upon the pontiff's death. A week later, on Sunday, May 25, at 5 p.m., Leo will take possession of the Roman "cathedra" (bishop's chair) at the Lateran Basilica. The ceremony will formally complete the beginning of his papacy, symbolically reaffirming the bond between the Pope and the Diocese of Rome.

3 Ordinations

Fr Matthew, Fr Johan and Fr Shawn

The church in Malta rejoices today as three young men are being ordained priests in St John’s Cathedral in Valletta. We remember them in our prayers as they start their pastoral service, which may include some more academic studies. The three new priests are: Fr. Matthew Sammut, 25 years old from Pemborke, a diocesan priest; Fr. Johan Bugeja SDB, 33 years old from Gharghur, a member of the Salesian order; and  Fr. Shawn Wong, 35 years old, originally from Singapore, but studying in Malta since 2016, a member of the ICPE Mission. This ordination coincides with the start of Pope Leo XIV’s pontificate as he will be crowned tomorrow at the Vatican. The number of vocations have dwindled in Malta over the last few years. When I was in the Seminary in the 1970s, we were over 80 seminarians living together and studying, spread around 4 courses, ordained respectively in 1972, 1974, 1977 (my class) and 1979. Presently there are 6 seminarians and  a few students in various religious orders. Unfortunately Malta has now become a mission country when we have to import priests to help run our parishes. I have been suggesting over the last 9 years that parishes should introduce an English Mass at least on a Sunday, since most people prefer a Maltese Mass, they will however have to get used to following Mass in English, unless the foreign priests who will eventually come from Africa, India, Korea and Vietnam, among others, will have to learn Maltese, which is a difficult language to learn. Of course I celebrate an English Mass, along with the other 4 Masses in Maltese I celebrate on the weekend. Ad Multos Annos to the 3 new priests.

Tri-Regnum

With Pope Leo’s coronation on Sunday, the celebration is much different than what it was in the past, at least until 1963. Now the coronation is with a mitre, the shepherd’s ring and the pallium. But in the past, the coronation was with a tri-regnum, a heavy crown that stopped with Pope Paul VI. He actually was crowned with it, but he decided to sell it for charity. It is presently in a Museum in the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Washington DC. On Christmas Day 1964, Paul VI gave a blessing Urbi et Orbi (to the City and the World ) wearing the bishop’s mitre. Never again did he or any of his successors choose to wear a tiara or a tri-regnum (three-tiered crown.) That was the last time the tri-regnum was used. It is called tri-regnum since it has three levels of gems and precious jewels, and is obviously very heavy. 

Pope St Paul VI wearing the tri-regnum crown

Apart from John Paul I, all of Paul VI’s successors had (still have) their own tiaras. In each case, they were given as a gift to the popes: John Paul II received the tiara in 1981 from the faithful from Hungary; In 2011, Dieter Philippi, a German businessman and famous collector of headgear, gave Benedict XVI a tiara made by a factory specializing in creating liturgical vestments for the Byzantine liturgy; while in 2016, Francis was presented with the tiara by the then president of the Macedonian parliament. None of these tiaras have ever been used or publicly displayed.

Leo XIV on social media

Pope Leo XIV has confirmed his presence on social media through the official papal accounts on X (formerly known as Twitter) and Instagram, the Vatican Dicastery for Communication announced yesterday. Leo XIV inherited the @Pontifex account on X, which had been previously managed by Pope Francis and, before him, Pope Benedict XVI. The account, which communicates in nine languages — English, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, French, German, Polish, Arabic and Latin — has amassed a following of 52 million users. Messages shared by Francis during his pontificate will be preserved in a dedicated archive section on the  Vatican’s official website. On Instagram, Pope Leo XIV will be present under the account name @Pontifex — Pope Leo XIV. This platform continues the legacy of Francis' @Franciscus account. In a gesture of remembrance, content from @Franciscus will remain accessible as an "Ad Memoriam" commemorative archive. The Vatican announced emphatically that Leo will maintain an "active social media presence." In fact, at 4:30 p.m. local time on May 14, Leo published his first Instagram post in his new account, greeting all the faithful in the world in a short message inspired by his first public appearance on May 8, that starts with "Peace be with you all!" The Vatican's engagement with social media began under Benedict XVI on Dec. 12, 2012, when the @Pontifex account was launched. It marked a historic step for the church's communication strategy, bringing the papal voice to a global digital audience. Francis used these platforms extensively, publishing around 50,000 posts across both accounts. His messages, often focused on themes of peace, social justice and environmental stewardship, resonated widely. During the height of the global pandemic in 2020, papal messages generated exceptional engagement, with 27 billion views recorded that year alone. Leo's decision to continue this digital presence suggests a commitment to maintaining direct communication with the faithful and broader global audiences.

The Augustinians

A group of Augustinians with Pope Francis - Pope Leo XIV is on his left.

Since Pope Leo XIV is Augustinian, it’s fitting that we write something about this order of monks and sisters. The photo above actually shows a large group of Augustinian monks during an audience with Pope Francis, with Fr Robert Prevost on his left, and Cardinal Prospero Grech, a Maltese cardinal on his right.  During the early 5th century, St. Augustine, after a turbulent childhood and teenage years, he began living a monastic life with fellow priests in Northern Africa. This way of living was attractive to many priests, who gathered around Augustine in a monastic community. He wrote a list of guidelines to govern the community that later became known as the "Rule of St. Augustine." By the 13th century there sprung up the Order of Saint Augustine, inspired by Augustine's rule, a more structured religious order. The order was officially founded in 1244, and is known as the Order of St. Augustine, Augustinians, with the acronym after each father’s name O.S.A. The emblem of the Order of Saint Augustine is a flaming heart pierced by an arrow on the background of an open book. The open book suggests a dedication to a search for knowledge, both divine and earthly, and calling us to a continual growth of faith, hope and love in our lives.  The Augustinian Order is split up into provinces in almost 50 countries throughout the world. Some famous Augustinians are: St. Augustine of Hippo, St. Boniface, St. Nicholas of Tolentino, St. Rita of Cascia, St. Thomas of Villanova, St. Fulgentius of Ruspe. We may also mention his mother St Monica, who prayed all through her life for her son's conversion. The Order of Saint Augustine today includes some 2,800 Augustinians in 47 countries throughout the world.

The young Pope Leo XIV

Year-old baby Robert Prevost

It’s fitting to go back to the mid-1950s and check on that household in Dolton, Chicago, Illinois and see those Prevost boys and see some of their cute childhood photos. The first photo shows little Rob probably on his first birthday, which would be September 14, 1956. The second one is at the same time, as he is placed in one of the apple baskets I remember in the fall season. The third photo shows the three boys, with Rob the youngest on the left, and John and Louis the other two. Both his brothers were interviewed right after Rob’s election and they recollect how they always played with guns, marbles, sling-shots and baseballs, while their younger brother wanted to play church, and begged them to participate with him. Yes, inside his childhood home, the future Pope “played” Mass, using his mother’s ironing board as a pretend altar and candy Necco wafers as pretend hosts. On the street outside, lined with trees and similar small-size lots, he rode his bike with the neighborhood kids and joined in games like ‘Red Rover.’ They also agreed on the fact that they hardly ever gave a hard time to their parents, mainly because they were strict with them and handled any problem right away. 

Little Rob, and with his older siblings John and Louis (click to enlarge)

They all went to baseball games, especially the Chicago White Sox whom they favored, rather than Chicago Cubs. They often went with other altar-boys as a reward for their best behavior, probably led by their parish priest. They hung out together until their teenage years, but then once Rob joined the Augustinians, they would only see him on holidays and whenever he visited home. Their home was modest: a simple, square, red-brick Cape Cod house, the kind lived in by tens of thousands of other middle- and working-class Chicago families in the post-World War II housing boom. Their mother Mildred died in June 1990, and their father Louis died in November 1997.

Pope Leo’s coat-of-arms

Pope Leo XIV’s coat of arms offers a clear reflection of his Augustinian roots and the values he seeks to promote during his pontificate, particularly unity and communion within the Church. The shield is divided diagonally into two sections. The upper half features a blue background with a fleur-de-lys. The lily has always been the symbol of fertility and purity, and in Christianity it symbolizes the Blessed Mother (though it can also refer to the Trinity). The Pope's devotion to the Virgin Mary was evident from his first appearance, when he referred to the Madonna of Pompeii and asked the crowd to recite an Ave Maria with him.. The lower half of the shield has a light background and displays an image that recalls the Order of Saint Augustine: a closed book with a heart pierced by an arrow. This is a direct reference to the conversion experience of Saint Augustine himself, who described his personal encounter with God’s Word using the phrase: “Vulnerasti cor meum verbo tuo” – “You have pierced my heart with your Word.” Pope Leo XIV has also chosen a motto that reflects this Augustinian tradition: In Illo uno unum, which means “In the One, we are one.” The phrase is taken from Saint Augustine’s Exposition on Psalm 127, where he explains that “although we Christians are many, in the one Christ we are one.” He said “I believe it is very important to promote communion in the Church, and we know well that communion, participation, and mission are the three key words of the Synod. So, as an Augustinian, for me promoting unity and communion is fundamental.” Eventually the pallium will be added in the lower part of the image, probably with red crosses instead of black.

Mother’s Day

Margherita Sarto and her young son Giuseppe, the future Pius X

As we wish a Happy Mother’s Day to all mothers, grandmothers and godmothers, I share with you a touching story about one of our recent Popes. Giuseppe Sarto was the future Pope St. Pius X and he was very close to his mother Margherita. She was actually still alive when he became a Bishop, and was consecrated on November 16, 1884 in Rome. A few days later, the humble bishop went back to Riese to visit his mother. She kissed his ring devoutly and reverently, and then with a smile she said, "But you would not have this fine ring, son, if I did not have this one." And she showed him her worn wedding ring, and demanded that he would also kiss that wedding ring she had since she married Giuseppe’s father. I wish a Happy Mother's day to everyone who visit my blog.

A life of sacrifice

When You Saw the White Smoke…Did you rush to post, to speculate, or to celebrate power? Don’t let the moment be reduced to pageantry or headlines. Kneel. And pray. Because the man who appeared on the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica is not ascending to a throne—he is accepting a cross. He is not a victor in the worldly sense, but a servant called to bear the burdens of a broken and weary world.

Before he faces the cheering crowds, he may be alone in a quiet room next to the Sistine Chapel—the “Chapel of Tears”—where many popes have wept. There, overwhelmed, he may whisper a simple, trembling prayer: “Why me?” He will think of his shortcomings. He will feel unworthy. But God does not call the strong—He strengthens those He calls. And mercy, not merit, will guide this man forward.

He will carry the full weight of Peter’s office.

He will grow weary.

He will often suffer in silence.

He will age under the weight of responsibility—perhaps faster than expected.

He will not enjoy a life of ease.

He will likely die in service, giving everything until the end.

The world may never fully see the depth of his sacrifice, but his soul will feel it each day. So when you saw the white smoke, I hope you remembered: it does not only announce a new pope. It marks the beginning of a sacred burden. Pray for him. He is not stepping into glory—he is walking into a life of sacrifice.

Pope Leo XIV - a biography

                  

Born: September 14, 1955 in Chicago, Illinois, USA

Ordained priest June 19, 1982

Consecrated Bishop: December 12, 2014

Elevated to Cardinal: September 30, 2023

Elected Pope: May 8, 2025

Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost was elected after 4 votes on May 8, 2025, taking the name of Leo XIV. He has a missionary spirit, who travelled around the world being the Augustinian prior general of the order. He had to visit all the various communities belonging to the Augustinian order, including Malta. He also visited Malta recently when they had a meeting among various bishops and celebrated Mass at the Mosta basilica. His missionary spirit was emphasized by the fact that he spoke in fluent Italian, also in Spanish but didn’t say a work in English – which comes to show that he has a different vision about his mission at hand.

 

Childhood photos of Robert Prevost - click on each photo to enlarge

The Prevost family — Louis, an educator, Mildred, a librarian, and their sons Louis, John and Robert — were well-known at bustling St. Mary of the Assumption as dedicated and devout musicians, altar boys, lectors and volunteers, growing up in the southern edge of Chicago. Robert’s education took him to several schools which have all since closed, Mendel College Prep High School, where Prevost and his mother worked; St. Augustine Seminary High School in Michigan; Tolentine College in Olympia Fields, the suburb where he briefly lived; and Mount Carmel Elementary School in Chicago Heights, where his father was principal. His mother was also well educated, receiving a bachelor’s and master’s degree in Education. Two of her sisters were nuns. All their peers remember both parents as very hard-working in the parish, in the sacristy, parish choirs, fund-raising. Robert’s classmates refer to him as  the ‘smartest student in the class.’ He then left home for St. Augustine Seminary High School, also run by priests in the Order of St. Augustine, then went on to Villanova University, outside Philadelphia, for an undergraduate degree in mathematics. In 1977, he graduated, joined the Augustinians and began work toward his master of divinity degree at the Catholic Theological Union in Hyde Park. He also received both a licentiate and doctorate in canon law from the Pontifical College of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome. His doctoral thesis was on “The role of the local prior in the Order of Saint Augustine.”

Since taking his vows, though, Prevost has spent most of his career overseas.  He was ordained a priest on June 19, 1982 in Rome. Fr. Robert was sent in 1985 to Peru as a missionary, community prior and professor. He was consecrated Bishop on December 12, 2014. In 1999, Prevost was elected the head of the Augustinians' Chicago-based province. And then in 2001, he tapped as prior general of the worldwide order, which he led until 2013. During that time, he was based in Rome but spent most of his time on the road and in the air, visiting the nearly 50 countries where the Augustinian order is present.

 

Click on these photos of Robert Prevost to enlarge - Villanova graduate, newly ordained.

In 2014, Francis sent him back into the mission field, naming him bishop of Chiclayo, in northern Peru, where he served until the Pope called him to Rome again for full-time service in the Roman Curia in 2023 to serve as the powerful head of the office that vets bishop nominations from around the world, one of the most important jobs in the Catholic Church. In Rome, Prevost enjoys a reputation for industriousness, spending as much time working to identify new bishops as he does in dealing with problem cases. He is a polyglot who speaks English, Spanish, Italian, French and Portuguese and can read Latin and German, giving him abilities to communicate with his fellow cardinals in ways that others cannot. When he speaks, he does so with caution and great deliberation. A private man with a reserved style, he will not score high on the charm offensive. But his steely determination and clarity might comfort those looking for a leader who knows where he wants to go and how to get there.  He's also a Peruvian citizen and lived for years in Peru, first as a missionary and then as an archbishop. Pope Leo in October 2024 said that a "bishop is not supposed to be a little prince sitting in his kingdom, but rather called authentically to be humble, to be close to the people he serves, to walk with them and to suffer with them."

    

The name he chose is also very significant. Pope Leo the Great brought great unity in the church in the 5th century when the church was theologically very divided, even going as far as confronting Attila when he tried to invade Rome. On the other hand Pope Leo XIII who reigned between 1878 and 1903 was eminent in his social work, had a missionary spirit and wrote the classic social encyclical Rerum Novarum. Leo XIV is ready to build bridges as he said in his initial speech, emphasizing St Augustine’s writings and teachings. Ad Multos Annos Papa Leo