The faithful curious about who Pope Leo XIV was before his election to the papacy now have a new window into the Augustinian spirituality that shaped him. Source: EWTN News.
The Order of St Augustine and the Vatican Publishing House have published a book by Pope Leo XIV titled Free Under Grace: Writings and Meditations 2001–2013, a collection of texts written during his years as prior general of the Augustinian order.
The volume includes for the first time speeches, homilies, letters, messages, and meditations written during the more than 10 years in which Robert Francis Prevost led the Order of St Augustine.
According to a statement, the book offers readers a “closer look at his spirituality,” deeply marked by the Augustinian tradition.
The first copy of the Italian edition, which arrived in bookstores yesterday – four days before the first anniversary of Leo XIV’s pontificate – was presented to Pope Leo XIV by Fr Joseph Lawrence Farrell OSA, the current prior general of the Order of St Augustine and promoter of the publication.
Also taking part in the presentation were Fr Rocco Ronzani OSA, prefect of the Vatican Apostolic Archive and one of the book’s editors, and Lorenzo Fazzini, editorial director of the Vatican Publishing House.
The Vatican Publishing House will publish the text in the coming months in several languages, including English, and it is currently being translated in nearly 30 countries.
“The book, which compiles many of the communications of then-Prior General Robert Francis Prevost, OSA, offers an overview of some of the important themes developed during his years at the head of the Order of St. Augustine,” Fr Farrell said.
The pages include spiritual reflections, meditations, and homilies that anticipate central aspects of the thought and spirituality of the man who is now Pope Leo XIV.
FULL STORY
Who was Pope Leo XIV before he became pope? (By Victoria Cardiel, EWTN News)
