“I have had to renounce many things, but I will not renounce being an Augustinian.” These were the words entrusted to Father Alejandro Moral Antón, Prior General of the Order, by Pope Leo XIV, a testament of his deep attachment to Augustinian spirituality. “Perhaps it is because he was Prior General. But this feeling of belonging clearly shines through,” says Father Moral, whose friendship with the new Pope dates back more than forty years.
Father Moral, how did you experience the election of Pope Leo XIV?
“I was in St Peter’s Square. We had just finished a session of the General Chapter when we suddenly heard an unusually loud round of thunderous applause. The papal smoke was visible from the window of our house. As soon as I saw that it was white, I rushed downstairs with some friars. My first thought was that it would be either Parolin or Prevost. I felt it would be one of them.
When you heard “Robert Francis” as his first name, did you think of him right away?
Yes, I realised immediately. When they said “Franci…”, I knew it was him. It was a very intense emotion.
For his first public appearance, the Pope chose a place that is particularly dear to the Order. What is the significance of the visit to Genazzano?
It was a deeply symbolic gesture. The Shrine of Our Lady of Good Counsel, where our presence dates back centuries, is a site that holds strong spiritual significance for our tradition. The fact that Leo XIV chose this shrine for his first private visit speaks volumes about his kind heart and sensitivity. He prayed in silence for a long time before the miraculous image. Then he greeted the community with simplicity. It was a powerful gesture:
He entrusted his pontificate to the Blessed Virgin Mary, the heart of our spiritual life.
When did he visit the Augustinian Curia?
We had lunch together, just as we used to when he was a cardinal. There was a fraternal, family atmosphere. He greeted each confrere personally. You could see that he still perceives himself as one of us.
His bond with the Order runs deep, it’s not just on a formal level.
I told him, smiling, “You are the Augustinian bishop who has remained most attached to the Order!” to which he smiled back. This is probably because he used to be Prior General. The other bishops also feel very close to us, of course, but his connection is somehow special.
Father Alejandro Moral Antón
He was born in La Vid (Burgos), Spain, on 1 June 1955. He entered the Augustinian novitiate in 1972 and professed his vows in 1973. He was ordained a priest in 1981. He has held various positions in the Augustinian Province, including Provincial Prior from 1995 to 2001.
He served as Vicar General, Procurator General and President of various commissions within the Order’s General Curia. Elected Prior General in 2013, he was re-elected at the General Chapter in 2019 for a second term.
How would you describe him in these first days of his pontificate?
Serene. I have known him for many years. I was his vicar general. In fact, we first met during our student days in Rome. We were born in the same year, but I am three months older than him. He teases me about that. He is carrying out this mission with great sense of responsibility and remarkable inner peace.
He was noticeably overcome with emotion when he first appeared on the papal balcony and during his inaugural Mass.
Tears welled up in his eyes as he stood on St. Peter’s balcony. Upon receiving the Fisherman’s Ring, the depth of his emotion was evident. He wrote his homily straight from the heart. He is authentic in everything he does.
Do you feel a special responsibility as Augustinians today?
We do, but it should also be seen as a challenge. I am in the process of writing a message to the Order on this very subject.
Our vocations coordinator informed me that we received over 150 requests for information about our charism in just one week. This is a time that can bear positive fruit for all, not only for us.
To what extent did his missionary service in Peru contribute to his spiritual formation?
I do believe that his time among the poor helped shape his commitment to pastoral care and his missionary spirit. His vision is firmly anchored in the reality of Latin America, yet he is equally attuned to the universal nature of the Church. St Augustine taught that it is through dialogue that we achieve the fundamental consensus that fosters harmonious coexistence.
Leo XIV is cautious, even-tempered. He is a good listener and observer. He is the right person to lead the Church at this time.
He will make it clear that the Church is not just the West.
Were you surprised that he chose the name Leo?
I was not, in fact I expected him to choose between either Augustine or Leo. Then, as he explained, Leo is a name that signifies a commitment to service and openness to the world. This choice clearly indicates his pastoral direction: to courageously guide the Church amid the epochal changes we are experiencing, starting with the technological revolution.
Does the name also reflect a spiritual and historical connection with the Order?
Leo XIII maintained close ties with the Augustinians. He promoted the reform of theological studies, encouraged the Order’s renewal and upheld its academic and pastoral presence within the Church. Thus, the name carries with it a significant ecclesial heritage, which is being renewed today in a spirit of continuity and openness. His choice of the name Leo is a bridge between tradition and the future.
He has mentioned artificial intelligence several times in his first speeches.
He is keenly aware of this issue. He is a Pope who is in touch with the world, attuned to the impending changes and aware of the need to respond to the signs of the times with evangelical responsibility.
This is not a pontificate that looks to the past; it looks to the future.
The Pope’s words:
“Even today, there are many settings in which the Christian faith is considered absurd, meant for the weak and unintelligent. Settings where other securities are preferred, like technology, money, success, power, or pleasure. […] Yet, precisely for this reason, they are the places where our missionary outreach is desperately needed.”
(Holy Mass with the College of Cardinals, 9 May 2025)
What is your heartfelt wish for the Holy Father, the Augustinians, and the Church?
I hope that this period will see renewed attention given to the sufferings in the world: wars, refugees, the poor. May the Gospel be proclaimed as good news and as a sign of God’s love. May the human person be rediscovered as the centre of creation, and may we take care of them accordingly. May we truly see ourselves as one family, as brothers and sisters. We are called to a deeper fraternity by the signs of the times. Selfishness is rife, even in Europe, but in order to move forward, we need to unite, engage in dialogue and create something new. The answer lies in our hearts. What we need is human fraternity, happiness and genuine relationships.
The Pope has mentioned his predecessor, Pope Francis, several times.
He mentioned him during his inauguration Mass. He feels great affection for him. He has always held him in high esteem.
Are they connected by a spiritual bond?
I believe that, during the Conclave, Pope Francis supported him spiritually.
They share a profound spiritual bond. I am sure that Leo XIV felt Francis’ closeness at the moment of his election. Prayer, their fraternal relationship and ecclesial communion all contributed. That spiritual bond continues to resonate today.
