Pope Leo XIV: This is the patron saint who marked his Augustinian consecration

Pope Leo XIV maintains a profound devotion to Saint Nicholas of Tolentino, the first saint of the Order of Saint Augustine. This was revealed by Peruvian missionary priest David Farfán Guerrero in a statement to ACI Prensa, highlighting that this spiritual relationship dates back to the beginning of the religious life of then-Friar Robert Prevost, who professed his perpetual vows in 1981 and chose this Italian mystic as his patron saint.

The bond deepened during Prevost's years as Bishop of Chiclayo (2015-2023). There, he discovered a small chapel dedicated to Saint Nicholas in the town of San Nicolás, in northern Peru, where he would often pray privately in front of a 17th-century image attributed to the first Augustinians who arrived in the region.

"This place is very special in His Holiness's life, because this is where, as I often say, he 'tested his knees,'" said Father Farfán, parish priest in Zaña for a decade. The venerated image is considered the oldest in Zaña and, according to the restorer who worked on it, is more than 450 years old.

During his time in Peru, the current Pope also organized pilgrimages of Augustinian novices to the chapel from the Guadalupe district , a journey of more than 90 kilometers, which included towns with a historic Augustinian presence such as Pomalca and Tumán.

Adopting a patron saint is a common tradition in religious orders, especially during the profession of vows. In this case, Saint Nicholas of Tolentino, who lived between the 13th and 14th centuries, was chosen for his life of prayer, austerity, and service to the needy. He is recognized as the patron saint of the souls in purgatory and was canonized in 1446 by Pope Eugene IV.

This private devotion of Pope Leo XIV coincides with the messages he has delivered since his recent election as Supreme Pontiff. Last Sunday, during his first public appearance in St. Peter's Square for the Regina Caeli prayer, he called on young people to pursue a consecrated life.

“The Church needs you,” affirmed Leo XIV, who urged communities to welcome, listen to, and accompany vocational discernment. The message was issued within the framework of the World Day of Prayer for Vocations, celebrated annually on the fourth Sunday of Easter.

“Do not be afraid, accept the invitation of Christ the Lord!” he urged, stressing the importance of having “credible models of generous dedication to God and to one’s brothers and sisters.”

That same day, the Pope also called for an "immediate" ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, advocated for humanitarian aid for the civilian population, and demanded the release of all Israeli hostages, in a message from the central balcony of St. Peter's Basilica.

According to ACI Prensa, the then Bishop Prevost never imagined that in the diocese he would pastor, he would find a community and chapel dedicated to his patron saint. However, this discovery strengthened their spiritual bond, and, as Father Farfán recalls, it was common to see him praying alone before the historic image of Saint Nicholas of Tolentino, in a gesture of contemplation and fidelity to his vocation.

Thus, the figure of the Augustinian saint, known for his austere and charitable life, continues to be a reference in the spirituality of Pope Leo XIV, who now from Rome, and amid great pastoral challenges, keeps alive this silent devotion that has accompanied him for more than four decades.

*This content was written with the assistance of artificial intelligence, based on publicly available information released to media outlets. It was also reviewed by a journalist and an editor.

DIGITAL REACH EDITORIAL