Pope Leo XIV visits the headquarters of his Augustinian order

ROME AP Pope Leo XIV celebrated Mass and had lunch with members of his Augustinian religious order on Tuesday slipping into the congregation s headquarters outside St Peter s Square where he served for years as superior The atmosphere was of great fraternity stated the Rev Gabriele Pedicino head of the Augustinians Italian branch You really inevitably have to practice and remember that he is now the pope because he puts you at ease and has this closeness that inevitably impresses me Leo was seen arriving in a black automobile at around lunchtime at the Augustinianum the pontifical institute that also serves as the Rome-based residence and headquarters of the Order of St Augustine Leo left shortly before p m The ethos of the order which includes a contemplative spirituality communal living and amenity to others is traced to the fifth-century St Augustine of Hippo one of the theological and devotional giants of early Christianity The former Rev Robert Prevost history s first American pope was twice elected superior of the order serving as general prior from - The order was formed in the th century as a group of mendicant friars dedicated to poverty organization and evangelization and inspired by the saint Ever since his May electoral contest Leo has repeatedly emphasized that he s a son of St Augustine and quoted from the saint He visited an Augustinian-run Marian sanctuary south of Rome on Saturday in his first outing as pope and during his first greeting to the world Leo wore a pectoral cross given to him by his order that contained relics of St Augustine Leo the first Augustinian pope has also kept as his papal coat of arms and motto In Illo uno unum The words were pronounced by St Augustine in a sermon to explain that although we Christians are numerous in the one Christ we are one The emblem on the coast of arms is that of the Augustinian order a pierced flaming heart and a book representing the Scriptures Pedicino announced that he expected Leo to apply Augustine s teaching about communion and unity in diversity in his new ministry as pope Diversity isn t a danger or something negative he stated of Augustine s teaching So I think the pope will work so that inside the church and out the other is increasingly seen not as a danger if different but as someone to love and who enriches our life and makes it more beautiful