Habemus Papam!

Dear Austin Prep Community,

Today was a historic day in the Catholic Church as Cardinal Robert Prevost, O.S.A., an Augustinian Friar of Chicago, IL, was elected the first American Pope.  Shortly after the white smoke appeared from the rooftop of the Sistine Chapel this afternoon, faculty, students, and staff formed watch parties here on campus in offices, classrooms, and the Fr. Arthur F. Smith, O.S.A. Library and Media Center waiting for the announcement of the new Pope.  You can imagine the surprise and excitement when we watched Pope Leo XIV, an Augustinian Friar, emerge on the loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica!   Austin Prep shares in the joy of the Augustinian family and joins with Catholics around the world in offering our prayers for His Holiness.

The Augustinian way of life dates back nearly 1,700 years to St. Augustine – a towering figure in human civilization who wrote more than five millions words that are still being studied and dissected today. Although his teachings are nearly seventeen centuries old, the wisdom of St. Augustine is timeless and the Augustinian virtues of veritas, unitas, and caritas – truth, unity, and love – are needed more than ever to prevail against the lies, division, and hate that all too often manifests in our world today.

The election of Pope Leo XIV roughly coincides with the graduation of Austin Prep’s Class of 2025 – the next regiment of the Augustinian cavalry who will continue their journey beyond 101 Willow Street – with veritas, unitas, and caritas, imprinted on their hearts – ready to make the world more just using Augustinian values as their moral compass.  At the same time, Pope Leo XVI’s formation as an Augustinian will inspire his journey and his leadership as our Holy Father to, among his first words as Pope, “build bridges.”

I often refer to the importance of the “unwritten curriculum” – those experiences which can’t be found in any book or classroom.  I suspect that one of those experiences will be a lasting memory of being on campus with classmates when the first Augustinian Pope was announced.  Although Pope Leo XIV has no direct connection to Austin Prep (I have uncovered an indirect connection), it somehow felt like a member of our immediate family was elected successor of St. Peter.

“You have made us for yourself O Lord, and hearts are restless until they rest in You.”

Sincerely,

 

James Hickey, Ph.D.