Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
by Marie Symington
Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - Pope Leo XIV is about to begin his third apostolic journey, which will also take him to Annaba, ancient Hippo, the city of which Saint Augustine was Bishop.
“Peace be with you” were his first words as Pontiff on the balcony on the day of his election as Bishop of Rome: A peace that is “unarmed and disarming, humble and persevering. A peace that comes from God, the God who loves us all, unconditionally.”
As an Augustinian, Pope Leo’s emphasis on peace is no doubt inspired by his spiritual patron Saint Augustine of Hippo, who defines peace as “the perfectly ordered and harmonious enjoyment of God, and of one another in God.” (On The City of God, Book XIX, Chapter 13). In his writings, Saint Augustine explains that it is only once there is a true devotion to God and a spirit of love among Men that there will be “the eternal peace”.
The members of the Order of Saint Augustine strive to live as such through three core values: caritas (charity); unitas (unity), and veritas (truth). Having led the Order as Prior General from 2001 to 2013, Leo XIV continues to live by and preach these virtues as pope.
Humility and caritas in the mission
Caritas stands as one of the theological virtues in the Christian faith, and makes a humble heart. Indeed, Saint Augustine warned against “the dangerous temptations to pride”, pointing out that “charity itself, which binds people together with the knot of unity, would have no scope for pouring minds and hearts in together, as it were, and blending them with one another, if human beings were never to learn anything from each other” (On Christian Doctrine, Preface 6).
Having cared for his flock first as a priest in Peru and later as a bishop there, Leo XIV has experienced first-hand the importance of humility in learning to serve and live in communion and charity with others. In one of his first homilies, the Holy Father emphasised “the missionary spirit that must animate us; not closing ourselves off in our small groups, nor feeling superior to the world. We are called to offer God’s love to everyone, in order to achieve that unity which does not cancel out differences but values the personal history of each person and the social and religious culture of every people”. Pope Leo’s words clearly echoed those of Saint Augustine, “The Church consists of all those who are in harmony with their brothers and sisters and who love their neighbour” (Serm. 359,9).
In addition to this, it is worth remembering that charity is not only reserved to “Observing your brothers and sisters [whom] you know if they are in need”, but also extends to strangers, as Augustine reminds us in his Commentaries on the Psalms. Pope Leo echoed this point when, on the Ninth World Day of the Poor, he shared lunch with around 1,300 people from all over the world, declaring that he wished to celebrate this meal “in a spirit of fraternity.” In his first Apostolic Exhortation Dilexi te Pope Leo quoted Augustine to demonstrate that “For Augustine, the poor are not just people to be helped, but the sacramental presence of the Lord. The Doctor of Grace saw caring for the poor as concrete proof of the sincerity of faith. Anyone who says they love God and has no compassion for the needy is lying (cf. 1 Jn 4:20).”
Communion and unitas in the Church
Caritas bears the fruit of unitas, unity, in the Church.
Leo XIV has often expressed his desire for a “united Church”, one that is “a sign of unity and communion, which becomes a leaven for a reconciled world”. A united Church is attentive to all, listens to each of its members from every social and cultural background, and welcomes our differences in the unity of Christ. In Illo uno unum—“In the One, we are one”: Pope Leo XIV’s episcopal motto, taken from Saint Augustine’s Exposition on Psalm 127, demonstrates how the Augustinian spirit is deeply present in the Holy Father’s mission. Before his papal election, then-Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost explained the significance of this motto to Vatican News’ Tiziana Campisi : “As can be seen from my episcopal motto, unity and communion are truly part of the charism of the Order of Saint Augustine, and also of my way of acting and thinking,” adding, “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.”
Faith and veritas in teaching
Pope Leo’s desire for a united and synodal Church should not be confused with a compromised Church, one in which Church doctrine would be modified so as to satisfy all contemporary norms and beliefs. In his interview with Senior Crux Correspondent, Elise Ann Allen, the Pope stood firmly by the Church’s teaching on marriage in the face of the LGBTQ+ movement, reminding us that unity in the Church does not mean transforming the Church “into some kind of democratic government”. Indeed, Leo pointed out that “if we look at many countries around the world today, democracy is not necessarily a perfect solution to everything”. It is not necessarily the will of the majority that should prevail, but, first and foremost, the will of God. As Saint Augustine taught, the world must be ordered by Christ, “the way and the truth and the life” (Jn 14:6).
The City of God and the wars of men
These three virtues—charity, unity, and truth—can contribute to building the City of God, where the eternal peace Saint Augustine described will prevail. Yet, as Pope Leo remarked in his Apostolic Letter In Unitate Fidei "Wars have been fought, and people have been killed, persecuted and discriminated against in the name of God. Instead of proclaiming a merciful God, a vengeful God has been presented who instills terror and punishes.".
Religious conflict or not, unity in Christ is equally vital in a secular world that has distanced itself from God. “[U]nite yourselves more and more to Jesus, to live by him and to bear witness to him” were Leo’s XIV words to elected officials and civil servants from the French diocese of Creteil on August 28 2025. The Holy Father encouraged these Frenchmen to stand by their Christian faith in public life, just as in their private life. “There is no separation in the personality of a public figure,” the Pope affirmed, “there is not on one side the politician, on the other the Christian. But there is the politician who, under the gaze of God and his conscience, lives his commitments and responsibilities in a Christian manner.” On the feast day of his order’s patron, Leo XIVs words undoubtedly referred to the times and teachings of Saint Augustine.
During his lifetime, the Bishop of Hippo witnessed the fall of the Roman empire and the reactions of pagan cultural elites who considered the Christian faith as the cause of its downfall. As a result, Saint Augustine wrote one of his greatest works, On the City of God. The City of God, according to Augustine, is built on selfless love of God, “characterized by justice, charity and humility” as Pope Leo explained to members of the International Catholic Legislators Network, a few days before his meeting with the French pilgrims. The City of Man, on the other hand, is built “on pride and love of oneself, [and] is marked by the pursuit of power, prestige and pleasure”. According to Leo XIV, “These signify spiritual realities – two orientations of the human heart and, therefore, of human civilization.”
Thus, it is clear that the Catholic Church is led by a Pope who—like his spiritual patron—is acutely aware of the fallen human condition and vital need to anchor all things in Christ, as the only true remedy for a world in conflict. (Agenzia Fides, 11/4/2026)
