Pope Leo XIV opens the General Assembly of the Augustinian Order

Vatikanstadt - Pope Leo is an Augustinian through and through. It goes without saying that he would not miss the opening of the most important assembly of his order. He was once elected worldwide leader at such a general chapter.

Published on 30.08.2025 at 13:52 –

Pope Leo XIV opens the general assembly of his order in Rome on Monday evening. This was announced by the Vatican press office (Saturday). The current Pope and former head of the Augustinian order will celebrate the opening mass in the Basilica of St Augustine in Rome. The order's leadership will meet until 18 September to elect a new worldwide leader. The second term of office of the current Prior General Alejandro Moral Antón (70) ends after twelve years. Re-election is not possible.

Moral Antón succeeds Robert Francis Prevost (69), now Pope Leo XIV, in this office. Prevost also led the order for two terms, then became bishop in Peru and later head of the Vatican's episcopal authority. Born in the USA, he joined the Augustinian Order in 1977 and worked mainly in Peru in the 1980s and 1990s.

"I will never stop being an Augustinian"

Shortly after his election as Pope, he told his former confreres: "I will have to give up a lot, my life has changed, but I will never stop being an Augustinian." According to media reports, Leo IX is planning a small monastic community in his new papal flat in the Apostolic Palace. His future flatmates are to be three Augustinian monks. The date of the move is not yet official. However, the renovation work on the apartments should be completed by the end of September. (KNA)