In his homily, the Pope urged the Augustinians to seek the Holy Spirit’s guidance, emphasizing an “atmosphere of listening” to both God and one another.
Newsroom (02/09/2025, Gaudium Press ) Pope Leo XIV celebrated Holy Mass at the Church of St. Augustine in Rome to mark the opening of the General Chapter of the Augustinian Order, calling on its members to embrace listening, humility, and unity as guiding principles for their deliberations and mission.
In his homily, the Pope urged the Augustinians to seek the Holy Spirit’s guidance, emphasizing an “atmosphere of listening” to both God and one another. “The Holy Spirit speaks, today as in the past,” he said, underscoring the need for open communication and mutual understanding during the Chapter. He described this approach as a “generous response to the great and unique gift of light and grace” bestowed upon the Order by God.
Drawing on the teachings of St. Augustine, Pope Leo highlighted humility as essential for discernment. He cautioned against presuming to have “all the answers,” instead encouraging the Augustinians to remain open to the Spirit’s inspiration and Christ’s teachings. “Make yourselves small in the face of the freedom and inscrutability of God’s action,” he said, quoting the saint.
A significant portion of the Pope’s message focused on unity as an “indispensable goal.” Citing St. Paul’s words from the day’s first reading, he reminded the assembly that the diverse gifts bestowed by the Spirit are meant for the common good. Switching briefly to English to address non-Italian speakers, Pope Leo prayed for the Order to receive “the gift to listen, the gift to be humble, and the gift to promote unity—within the Order and through the Order, throughout the Church and the world.”
Returning to Italian, he stressed that unity should not only be a goal but also a “criterion for evaluating your actions and your work together, because what unites is from Him, but what divides cannot be.”
Concluding his homily, Pope Leo XIV invoked the Paraclete, praying that the Holy Spirit would “illuminate our minds and, according to the promise of your Son, guide us to all truth.” His words set a reflective tone for the General Chapter, urging the Augustinians to renew their commitment to listening, humility, and unity as they chart the path forward for their Order and its mission in the Church and the world.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from Vatican News
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