A Parramatta priest has written a book on the theological currents linking four major figures in Church history and modern leadership: St Augustine of Hippo, Pope Benedict XVI, Pope Francis, and the recently elected Pope Leo XIV. Source: Catholic Outlook.
Fr Joseph Lam’s book Augustine, Benedict XVI, Francis and Leo XIV: Theological Affinity explores how Pope Leo XIV’s spirituality is rooted in the Augustinian tradition and how it resonates with the intellectual and pastoral emphases of his immediate predecessors – Francis and Benedict XVI.
The work is a timely contribution to ecclesial scholarship and a valuable resource for understanding the emerging theological profile of the current Holy Father.
The Baulkham Hills parish priest has a particular affinity with the past three popes, in particular, Pope Benedict XIV and Pope Leo XIV.
Fr Lam worked closely with then-Fr Robert Prevost in Rome when Fr Lam was part of the Augustinian Order and the future Pope was the Prior General of the Augustinians.
In his humility, Fr Lam doesn’t claim to know Pope Leo, as “nobody can claim to know a person, but from the distance because I lived and worked [in the Vatican] when Prevost was the boss … in my small capacity, I served in my function, and there was an affinity to him.”
After hearing the announcement that Cardinal Prevost was the new Pope, Fr Lam was inspired to write his ninth book, the second of which is dedicated to the new Pope.
Fr Lam’s first book on Fr Prevost was published in 2009 as a thank you for his pastoral support.
The new book is a thanksgiving for the election of Pope Leo and to help people understand where the new pontiff’s spiritual heritage and theology comes from.
“Having read his doctorate again, and his first homilies, this reminds that he is a true son of Augustine,” Fr Lam said.
“I wanted to spend time to illustrate that what Benedict XIV started (as a great Augustine scholar), then what Francis tried to do on a practical level, and now Leo.”
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Pope Leo inspires Parish Priest and prolific author to write new book (By Anita Sulentic, Catholic Outlook)
