By Souhail Lawand
ACI MENA, May 17, 2025 / 08:00 am
Eastern Christian communities erupted in celebration at the election of the Catholic Church’s new pontiff on May 8, with joyful speeches and church bells ringing. However, many wondered about Pope Leo XIV’s connection to the East, given his North and South American roots and his affiliation with the Augustinian order — a community not widely known in the Arab world.
Spiritual son of an Algerian saint
In his first address from St. Peter’s Basilica balcony on May 8, Pope Leo XIV introduced himself by saying: “I am a son of St. Augustine, an Augustinian.”
St. Augustine was born in Tagaste, Algeria (modern-day Souk Ahras). He taught in Carthage and later served as bishop of Hippo (now Annaba), where he lived, ministered, and was buried.
The Augustinian order, to which the new pontiff belongs, derives its spiritual foundation from St. Augustine, who became a doctor of the Church. The order’s guiding principles emphasize love for the Church, service, fraternity, and unity. The order seeks God through worship and ministry, aiming to transform the world from within and spread the Gospel. Key pillars of this spirituality include missionary work, prayer, development, and reflection on contemporary issues.
A likely influence
Before his election, Pope Leo XIV headed the Vatican’s Dicastery for Bishops, the office responsible for selecting bishops and apostolic administrators. The dicastery evaluates candidates’ qualifications and assesses their spiritual, theological, and administrative capacities. In this role, Pope Leo XIV is believed to have influenced — either directly or indirectly — the 2023 appointment of Bishop Hanna Jallouf as apostolic vicar of Aleppo.
Relic of St. Peter
Maron and prayers in Arabic
Welcome to our blog, where we share stories of faith, peace, and unity. Today, we have an inspiring tale to tell about the newly-elected pope and his visit to the Maronite College in Rome.
A few months ago, the pope visited the college to discuss relations with Eastern churches and the concept of communion. At the end of the meeting, he was presented with a relic of St. Maron and a beautiful statue carved from cedarwood.
According to the Peruvian newspaper La República, Pope Leo XIV kept a small slip of paper with prayers written in Arabic, showing his deep connection to the culture and traditions of the Middle East.
Champion of peace and the Syrian people
In his first address, the pope emphasized the importance of peace, mentioning the word “peace” 10 times. He began by saying, “Peace be upon you all,” highlighting his commitment to promoting peace in conflict zones like the Middle East and Ukraine.
While the phrase “Peace be upon you” is often associated with Islamic traditions, it has deep roots in Christianity and symbolizes goodwill and unity.
Furthermore, Pope Leo XIV shared a powerful image on his social media account, depicting Syrian child Omran Daqneesh, a victim of the conflict in Syria. The image was accompanied by a poignant quote from a Jesuit priest, calling for compassion and empathy towards Syrian refugees.
Quoting a Syrian saint in his first Mass
During his first Mass at the Sistine Chapel, Pope Leo XIV ended his homily with a quote from St. Maron, a Syrian saint known for his teachings on love and compassion.
Stay tuned for more stories of faith and unity as we continue to explore the Pope’s message of peace and goodwill.
