Vatican City: Pope Leo XIV has urged the Augustinian community to embrace a spirit of listening and loving service, reminding them that true peace flows from both words and actions guided by the Gospel. His call came in a video message to the Augustinian Province of Saint Thomas of Villanova in the United States, sent on the feast of Saint Augustine.
The Pope expressed gratitude for receiving the Saint Augustine Medal, noting the honor of being recognized in the Augustinian tradition. He recalled with affection that the parish dedicated to Saint Thomas of Villanova continues to embody the legacy of the “father of the poor,” whose life of compassion and service remains a guiding example.
Reflecting on Saint Augustine’s journey of faith, Pope Leo said the saint’s restless search mirrored the struggles of many believers. “Through grace, the prayers of his mother Monica, and the witness of his community, Augustine discovered the way to peace,” he said, inviting Christians to recognize their gifts and place them at the service of God and neighbor.
Turning to history, the Pope highlighted the Augustinians’ long presence in Philadelphia, one of the oldest Catholic communities in the U.S., recalling the missionary zeal of Fathers Matthew Carr and John Rossiter in their care for immigrants. That legacy of service, he emphasized, remains a call for today’s Church to build bridges of love and solidarity.
In his message, Pope Leo drew attention to the importance of listening in both personal faith and the life of the Church. Quoting Augustine’s words "Do not have your heart in your ears, but your ears in your heart" he urged the faithful to listen to God, to one another, and especially to the poor. “Before we speak, we must listen,” he stressed, linking this spirit of attentiveness to the synodal journey of the universal Church.
The Pope cautioned against the noise and divisions of the world, saying that only God’s loving voice can bring true peace to restless hearts. “When we hear that reassuring voice, we can share it with the world as we strive to become one in Him,” he affirmed.
Concluding his message, Pope Leo entrusted the Augustinian family to Mary, Mother of Good Counsel, praying that they continue to build “a community of love, one in mind and heart, intent upon God.”