St. Augustine’s “unique way of blending thought and feeling” to Inspire Pope Leo XIV’s Papacy: Augustinians in Nigeria

For him, the new Pontiff’s choice of the name Leo XIV signals his desire to connect with Pope Leo XIII, who championed Catholic social teaching and the dignity of labourers in his May 1891 Encyclical Letter on capital and labour, Rerum Novarum. 

Pope Leo XIV was elected during the 2025 Conclave that brought together 133 Cardinal Electors in the Sistine Chapel from May 7.  

In his first address as Pope, the 69-year-old American-born OSA member asked the people of God to help the Church build bridges through dialogue and encounter, working for unity and peace.

Later, the newly elected Pontiff explained his choice of Papal name, noting that in Rerum Novarum, Pope Leo XIII “addressed the social question in the context of the first great industrial revolution.”

“In our own day, the Church offers to everyone the treasury of her social teaching in response to another industrial revolution and to developments in the field of artificial intelligence that pose new challenges for the defence of human dignity, justice and labor,” Pope Leo XIV said.

In the May 15 interview, Fr. Kanu recalled the Pope’s first words as Pope, “Peace be with you,” saying they were widely interpreted as a deliberate echo of this historical lineage.

“This Pope is likely to deepen the Church’s engagement in peace processes and advocate strongly for justice,” the Prior Provincial in Nigeria told ACI Africa.

For the Nigerian Augustinian Priest, doctrinal development under Pope Leo XIV will not involve altering the Church’s teachings; it will be about deepening understanding of the teachings of the Church in light of new challenges. 

“Doctrine does not change, but it grows. The Holy Father will guide the Church in applying the eternal truths of the Gospel to new questions posed by science, culture, and global inequality,” Fr. Kanu said.

He went on to laud the new Pontiff’s ability to bring theological clarity to a changing world, saying, “We are looking at a Pontificate that could sharpen the Church’s voice in a rapidly changing world.”

In the May 15 interview, Fr. Kanu reflected on the enduring influence of St. Augustine on Church doctrine. He said, “There is hardly any important document in the Church that does not make reference to St.  Augustine.”

The Nigerian OSA Prior Provincial in Nigeria also reflected on the personal connection Pope Leo XIV has with the West African nation, where he reportedly realized at least nine pastoral visits since he started his service as OSA Prior General in 2001.

Some of the visits included the 2001 elevation of the Nigerian vice-province, a mid-chapter assembly in 2003, the 2008 Episcopal Ordination of Bishop John Namaza Niyiring of Nigeria’s Catholic Diocese of Kano, the chapter meeting of 2012, and the 2016 mid-general chapter in Abuja, Fr. Kanu told ACI Africa.

“These visits were not ceremonial alone. They reflected a consistent commitment to the growth and well-being of the Augustinian community in Nigeria,” he said.

Fr. Kanu acknowledged that the new Pope’s election is also a call to action for OSA members across the globe. “This is a call to renewed commitment. We must contribute more intentionally to the growth of the universal Church, both in thought and in action,” the Nigerian OSA member said.

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He went on to encourage Catholics around the world to embrace the new Catholic Church leader, and added, “Every Pope comes with a new spirit… It is the same spirit of Christ manifesting in new ways.”

The OSA Prior Provincial in Nigeria called for loyalty and active participation from the people of God, saying, “What we expect from Catholics, from the entire people of God, is loyalty to the Vicar of Christ…and a deep sense of responsibility to act on the spiritual and pastoral guidance that will emerge under this new leadership.”

According to Nigerian Augustinians, the role of the Pope is not merely administrative, but deeply spiritual and pastoral. 

As the Church embarks on this new chapter, they affirm their commitment to supporting Pope Leo XIV’s mission with fidelity and shared purpose. 

“We are entering a time of renewal, and we are committed to walking faithfully with the Holy Father in the mission of Christ,” Fr. Kanu told ACI Africa on May 15.