Did you know that Cardinal Robert Prevost, now Pope Leo XIV, visited the Philippines?
Photo: The Order of Saint Augustine – Province of Santo Niño de Cebu and Fr. Genesis Pacaldo Labana/Facebook
The Order of Saint Augustine – Province of Santo Niño de Cebu delightfully shared photos of the Cardinal’s visit to the country. Before becoming the new Pope, he had made personal visits to Augustinian friars, showing his deep connection to the order and his personal ties with Filipinos.
“With great joy, the Augustinian Province of Santo Niño de Cebu–Philippines joins the Catholic Church in praying for Robert Cardinal Prevost, OSA—now Pope Leo XIV—as he begins his ministry as the 267th Supreme Pontiff,” the Facebook post read.
“We’re also sharing in this post a few more photos of then-Fr. Robert Prevost with our Augustinian friars,” it added.
In another Facebook post, Fr. Genesis Pacaldo Labana shared a personal memory of the Pope from 15 years ago.
“15 years ago, from September 19-30, 2010, the Order of Saint Augustine held their Intermediate General Chapter in the Philippines. The venues were in San Agustin Church, Intramuros, Colegio San Agustin – Biñan, and the University of Regina Carmeli in Malolos, Bulacan,” he wrote.
He shared: “I was able to save all these photos way back when [I] was still in the seminary and part of the SACS Media Center.”
Pope Leo XIV is hailed as the first American pope. He embraced his new role after receiving the required two-thirds majority on the fourth ballot of the conclave, which took place on the second day of deliberations among 133 cardinal electors.
Born in Chicago, Illinois, on September 14, 1995, he graduated from Villanova University in 1997 with a bachelor’s degree in mathematics. He later earned degrees in theology from the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago and canon law from the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome.
The 69-year-old devoted a significant portion of his ministry to missionary work in Peru before being elevated to cardinal in 2023.
He now serves as the 267th pope of the Catholic Church, leading more than one billion Catholics around the world. He succeeds Pope Francis, who passed away in April.
Here are some photos from Pope Leo XIV’s visit to the Philippines:
Photo: The Order of Saint Augustine – Province of Santo Niño de Cebu/Facebook
Photo: The Order of Saint Augustine – Province of Santo Niño de Cebu/Facebook
Photo: The Order of Saint Augustine – Province of Santo Niño de Cebu/Facebook
Photo: The Order of Saint Augustine – Province of Santo Niño de Cebu/Facebook
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