CorazónInmaculado de la Bienaventurada Virgen María 28 de junio
Santos Pedro y Pablo, Apóstoles 29 de junio
Santo Tomas, Apóstoles 3 de julio
Día de la Independencia de los Estados Unidas 4 de julio
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Especial de Sacramentos
Mississippi Catholic publicará una edición especial de Sacramentos (Spring Sacraments) en julio. Necesitamos fotos de Primera Comunión y Confirmación. Envie fotografías grupales a Mississippi Catholic. La fecha límite final para las presentaciones es el viernes 7 de julio. editor@jacksondiocese.org
Parish bulletins now burst with joyful announcements that spring Baptisms, First Communions and Confirmations are being celebrated on grace-filled days in churches near and far. Summer weddings, and the summer anniversaries they beget, lie just around the corner. Dioceses will be blessed with the springtime ordinations of their new shepherds, and many who have lived their vocations for decades will celebrate their special jubilees.
At the same time, the rapidly waning days of the school year bring final recitals, sports championships, honors convocations, awards ceremonies and graduations. After decades of university life, I am no stranger to these happy events – and they never get old!
In the weeks ahead, many of us will have the chance to wish each other well on these joyful days of celebration. The word that will cross our lips so naturally, be written in our cards so effortlessly, and caption photographs in our social media feeds so frequently is the jubilant greeting, “congratulations.”
To my mind, this is one of the most beautiful words we share with each other. Congratulations is a word fused together from the Latin words “con,” meaning “with,” and “gratus,” the same root as our word “gratitude.” This is not an obscure accident of etymology. Instead, there is something deeply beautiful about the fact that at the most joyous moments of our lives we choose to greet each other with an expression of thankfulness.
We wish each other well, we praise those who have accomplished great things, and we tell our loved ones how proud we are of them as they mark the milestones of their lives. However, first and foremost, we do this – consciously or not – by expressing our gratitude. Words matter. The way in which gratitude is embedded in the very language of our celebrations is worth remembering in the days ahead any time we are blessed to speak a word of exuberant congratulations to our loved ones, or to hear it back from them.
That gratitude goes first toward God who begins all good works. The celebration of good works brought to completion is also the chance to remember to ask God’s blessings on the many new works about to begin.
It is gratitude toward friends and family, without whose love and encouragement so many celebrations may never come to fruition. Whenever I attend my own students’ graduations, I see how much they realize their achievement also belongs to those who loved them along the way.
It is gratitude for obstacles overcome, second chances given, fears conquered, opportunities seized, friendships nurtured, memories shared, good examples seen, disappointments endured and prayers answered – over and over again.
Perhaps, however, “congratulations,” and the gratitude embedded in it, is a word that should not just be kept for those special moments of celebration. Maybe, instead, it should be part of our everyday lives. Perhaps it is a word that can remind us that every day can be lived with a heart that is full of gratitude. Maybe these ordinary days hold no momentous milestones. But, so often they are filled with the blessings of quiet victories, temptations overcome, kind words exchanged, harsh words held back, needy neighbors nurtured, children loved and challenges of all kinds faced and fought with quiet courage.
If this season, you or your loved ones are celebrating a special event, I hope that gratitude fills your hearts and that you greet each other with that joyful word of thankfulness, “Congratulations!” And my best wishes to you too.
However, when those celebrations have passed and life returns to the more mundane, I hope that you will still live with this beautiful spirit of gratitude for all the smaller triumphs that fill everyday life – even when no one notices. “Congratulations,” with gratitude, for any day lived well in ordinary times.
(Lucia A. Silecchia is a Professor of Law and Associate Dean for Faculty Research at The Catholic University of America. “On Ordinary Times” is a bi-weekly column reflecting on the ways to find the sacred in the simple. Email her at silecchia@cua.edu.)
WASHINGTON (OSV News) – The U.S. Supreme Court on May 30 allowed the Trump administration to end deportation protections for more than 500,000 immigrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela – typically Catholic-majority countries – while an appeal of the president’s order is still pending.
The Biden administration previously gave some migrants from those four countries the ability to legally enter the U.S. on humanitarian grounds, citing dangerous conditions in their countries of origin. Upon President Donald Trump’s return to the White House, his administration revoked that permission, prompting a legal challenge. A federal judge previously blocked the Trump administration from ending the program.
Heidy Sanchez, 44, reacts after talking to her daughter who is in the U.S. during an interview at her home in Havana, Cuba, April 28, 2025. Sanchez, interviewed by Reuters, said she was told she would be deported and separated from her husband, and still-breastfeeding daughter, a U.S. citizen. The U.S. Supreme Court on May 30, allowed the Trump administration to end deportation protections for more than 500,000 immigrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela. (OSV News photo/Mario Fuentes, Reuters)
The unsigned order did not explain the majority’s rationale.
In a dissent, Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, joined by Justice Sonia Sotomayor, rebuked the high court’s majority in the decision, arguing they “plainly botched” their assessment.
“It requires next to nothing from the Government with respect to irreparable harm,” Jackson wrote. “And it undervalues the devastating consequences of allowing the Government to precipitously upend the lives and livelihoods of nearly half a million noncitizens while their legal claims are pending.”
“Even if the Government is likely to win on the merits, in our legal system, success takes time and the stay standards require more than anticipated victory,” Jackson wrote.
Back in March, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops called the termination of the CHNV program “counterproductive” to the Trump administration’s stated goals of promoting respect for the rule of law and reducing strain on U.S. communities.
“We urge the Administration to consider the adverse impact of this action on citizens and noncitizens alike, especially given the ongoing conditions in several of the implicated countries,” the USCCB’s spokeswoman Chieko Noguchi said in a statement provided to OSV News.
Catholic social teaching on immigration, explained by the USCCB, balances three interrelated principles – the right of persons to migrate in order to sustain their lives and those of their families, the right of a country to regulate its borders and control immigration, and a nation’s duty to regulate its borders with justice and mercy.
J. Kevin Appleby, senior fellow for policy at the Center for Migration Studies in New York and former director of migration policy for the USCCB, told OSV News, “It is particularly troubling that the administration is targeting immigrants who were invited into the US and entered legally.”
“They also come from countries with oppressive regimes and could be targeted for persecution when they are returned,” Appleby said. “It shows some hypocrisy, as the administration labels immigrants as criminals but still deports those who play by the rules.”
Appleby said individuals from other nations may have been treated differently.
“Let’s be honest, if this program served immigrants from Norway, Sweden, or Afrikaners in South Africa, the administration would not be seeking to terminate it,” he said.
In effect, the Supreme Court’s decision means the Department of Homeland Security can revoke the protected status for these individuals while the 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals weighs an appeal of the order itself.
That court’s ruling remains pending.
(Kate Scanlon is a national reporter for OSV News covering Washington. Follow her on X @kgscanlon.)
TUPELO – Graduating students from St. James Parish in Tupelo are pictured, including (front row, from left) Father Tim Murphy, Angel Perez, Emily Lira, Estrella Candanedo, Valeria Diaz, Cindy Gonzalez, Tereza Perez, Lucy Haynes and Evelyn Pickering; (second row) Landon Nelms, Dawson Arriola, Averi Coleman, Andrea Brohawn, Joselin Flores, Nancy Cruz, Vanessa Acosta and Cindy Juarez; (third row) Ethan Arriola, Bryce Vaughn, Angel Mendez, Victor Salgado, Andrew Bizon, Santiago Salgado, Cooper Hairald, Ivan Sanchez, Irvin Fernandez, Michael Gusmus and Emily Lira. (Photo by Michelle Harkins)CLINTON – Holy Savior Church held a senior recognition Mass on May 18. Pictured from left are Carter Rogers, Jackson Rodgers, Father Tom McGing and Greta Nalker. Nalker is a parishioner at Immaculate Conception in Raymond. (Photo by Hunter Yentzen)MERIDIAN – Graduating students were recognized during the St. Patrick Baccalaureate Mass on May 18 with Father Augustine Palimattam. Pictured are Grace Clayton, Sara Daleo, Mauricio Espino, Dominick Espinoza, Jackson Frazier, Emeline Garcia-Ayala, Jose Angel Garcia, Annilyn Hoang, Jean Karol Mayo, Luis Perez, Eduardo Ramirez, Chris Rangel and Valeria Rangel. Not pictured but also recognized were Rachel Daleo, Miranda Rigdon, Kristy Castillo, Sean Auzenne and Grace DeGeneres. (Photo by Kasey Owen)MCCOMB – St. Alphonsus Parish honored its 2025 high school seniors with special artwork celebrating their accomplishments. Pictured in the tribute are Holden Cutrer, John Michael Heroman Jr., Ann Elise Gatlin, Tatum Klug, Renee Pena and Lydia Tullos. (Image courtesy of St. Alphonsus Parish)MERIDIAN – St. Joseph graduates were honored during the Baccalaureate Mass on May 18. Pictured with Father Augustine Palimattam are Jayden Mosley, Lily Zettler and Raven Smith. Not pictured: Zemaree Hampton. (Photo by John Harwell)VICKSBURG – St. Paul Catholic Church graduates Summer Mocknick and Peyton Rainer are pictured with Father Rusty Vincent. Not pictured is Carson Smith. (Photo by Connie Hosemann)LEXINGTON – Central Holmes Christian Academy graduate Daynie Parish was celebrated with a blessing and brunch at St. Thomas the Apostle. (Photo by Samuel Sample)GREENVILLE – Youth were recently recognized during Mass at Sacred Heart Church. Pictured from left are Father Sebastian Myladiyil, SVD; Isai Castillo; Aaliyah Guthrie; Yoselin Frias; Christian Sorrell; and Father Tom Mullally, SVD. (Photo courtesy of Sacred Heart Parish)GRENADA – Father Joseph Ashok offers a blessing to Alexia Lynn Strong at St. Peter Parish. Strong graduated from Grenada High School on May 22, 2025. (Photo courtesy of St. Peter Parish)
By Staff Reports JACKSON – The Diocese of Jackson’s Office of Catholic Education recently completed a major milestone with its system reaccreditation review conducted by Cognia, Inc., from April 8–10, 2025. The review was led by Dr. Michael Bratcher, Cognia’s Director of Accreditation Services and the national liaison for Catholic school accreditation. His extensive experience and expertise in evaluating Catholic institutions made him especially well-suited to assess our system’s distinct governance structure, Canonical foundations and deeply rooted Catholic identity.
JACKSON – On April 8, Father Joe Tonos, Father Gerry Hurley, Father Albeen Vatti and Father Kevin Slattery met with executive director of Catholic Education Karla Luke and Dr. Michael Bratcher, director of accreditation services for Cognia. The Diocese of Jackson received a score of 389 out of 400 by Cognia for outstanding efforts of educators and administrators, who are committed to excellence and mission-driven service. (Photo by Tereza Ma)
Unlike public or independent schools, Catholic school systems require evaluators who understand the unique relationships between pastors and principals, the influence of Canon Law, and the integral role of faith in daily instruction. Dr. Bratcher’s presence marked a significant response to longstanding requests for accreditation professionals who can truly appreciate these complexities.
The Office of Catholic Education was evaluated across four primary domains: Culture of Learning, Leadership for Learning, Engagement of Learning, and Growth in Learning – encompassing 30 rigorous standards. These areas, designed with the student as the central stakeholder, were assessed through surveys, performance data and in-depth classroom observations.
Cognia accreditation is internationally recognized for its high standards and emphasis on continuous improvement. The Diocese of Jackson first earned this prestigious system-wide accreditation in 2019. Under this model, every school in the diocesan system shares in the accreditation status, promoting consistency, excellence and accountability throughout.
Following this year’s engagement review, the Diocese of Jackson received an Index of Educational Quality (IEQ) score of 389 out of 400 – an exceptional result that stands 93 points above Cognia’s global network average of 296. This achievement reflects the outstanding efforts of diocesan Catholic school educators and administrators, who remain committed to excellence and mission-driven service.
Karla Luke, executive director of Catholic Schools said that to achieve a score of this caliber means diocesan school systems are solid, the best practices are imbedded in operations and instruction, and the diocesan Catholic school system is continuously striving for improvement.
“I am so very proud of the efforts of our Catholic School community in the entire Diocese of Jackson. I would like to thank our teachers and administrators for consistently delivering such high-quality education to our students,” said Luke.
The diocese extends special thanks to the leadership team that helped prepare for the review: Mary Arledge (Vicksburg Catholic Schools), Kimberley Burkley (Cathedral Catholic School), Dr. Dena Kinsey (St. Joseph Catholic School, Madison), and Office of Catholic Education staff members Rachel Patterson and Virginia Hollingsworth.
“With this outstanding reaccreditation behind them, diocesan leaders look forward to sharing more exciting developments in Catholic education in the months ahead,” said Luke.
From the Archives By Mary Woodward JACKSON – With all the excitement about electing our new pope and having that new pope be from the United States, I started thinking about all the popes who have had a connection to our diocese. In looking back to our establishment, 14 popes including Pope Leo XIV, have been in office – 10 Italians, one Pole, one German, one Argentine, and one American. How cool is that?!
Our diocese was established on July 28, 1837. The pope of that time was Gregory XVI, who was the supreme pontiff from 1831 to 1846. Not only would he have established our diocese, but he also would have appointed the first bishop, which usually comes along with the establishment of a diocese. His initial 1837 appointment went to a priest from Pittsburgh, who declined the opportunity to come to the frontier and build an entire diocese from the ground up.
Photo from Bishop R.O. Gerow’s seminary scrapbook of Pope St. Pius X working at his desk in 1904. (Photo courtesy of archives)
Since they did not have email or fax capabilities in 1837, it took until 1841 for the Diocese of then Natchez to get its shepherd in the person of John Joseph Marie Benedict Chanche, SS. In our diocesan archive we have the original papal decreeing of establishment of the diocese and the papal bull appointing Bishop Chanche. We have the bulls for most all of our bishops down in the vault.
Following Gregory XVI, Pope Blessed Pius IX (1846-1878) appointed Bishop James Oliver VandeVelde, SJ, first to Chicago in late 1848, then to Natchez in 1853, to succeed Bishop Chanche who had died unexpectedly in July 1852. Bishop VandeVelde died of Yellow Fever in 1855 and Blessed Pius IX appointed Bishop William Henry Elder to succeed him in 1857.
Bishop Elder’s Bull is signed on the back by the consecrating bishops – Archbishop Francis Kenrick of Baltimore, Bishop John McGill of Richmond, and Bishop James Frederick Wood of the titular see of Antigonea. Antigonea was an ancient diocese that had been suppressed. At that time, Bishop Wood was co-adjutor to Philadelphia. Auxiliaries and Co-Adjutors are given a titular see because every bishop needs a diocese.
An interesting note about the Titular See of Antigonea is that 100 years after Bishop Ward, an auxiliary bishop of Krakow, Poland was named its bishop. That bishop was Karol Wojtyła future Pope St. John Paul II, who appointed Bishop William Houck in 1978 and Bishop Joseph Latino in 2003 as our ninth and tenth bishops respectively. St. John Paul II ordained Bishop Houck to the episcopacy on May 29, 1979, in Rome. There is one more signature on Bishop Elder’s bull and it is quite a treasure. The Bishop of Philadelphia was present and signed the bull beneath the other three. This was none other than St. John Nepomucene Neumann, CSsR.
Pope Leo XIII (1878 – 1903), from whom the new pope Leo XIV takes inspiration and his name, appointed Bishop Francis Janssens in 1881 to succeed Bishop Elder, who had been appointed by Leo XIII as Archbishop of Cincinnati in 1880. Subsequently, Bishop Janssens was appointed as Archbishop of New Orleans by Leo XIII in 1888. Bishop Thomas Heslin was then appointed by Leo XIII as our fifth bishop in 1889.
In 1903, Pope St. Pius X was elected. St. Pius X would have been the pope while Bishop Gerow was in seminary in Rome from 1904-1909. As a seminarian, then Richard Gerow and his class met with St. Pius X. St. Pius X appointed Bishop John Edward Gunn, SM, to be the sixth Bishop of Natchez in 1911. Benedict XV succeeded St. Pius X in 1914. It is interesting to note that two Benedicts, the XVth and the XVIth, served the office beautifully from 1914 – 1922 and 2005 – 2013, but neither appointed a bishop for our diocese.
After Bishop Gunn’s death in February 1924, Bishop Gerow, mentioned above, was appointed by Pope Pius XI (1922 – 1939). In late 1956, Pope Pius XII (1939 – 1958) appointed Bishop Joseph Brunini, our only homegrown bishop, as auxiliary to Natchez. Soon after this, Pius XII would have approved the renaming of the diocese to Natchez-Jackson in 1957.
When Bishop Gerow retired at age 81 in 1966, he was the first bishop to retire while in office. Pope St. Paul VI (1963 – 1978) then appointed Bishop Brunini as the eighth bishop of the diocese in 1968. Bishop Brunini had been serving as apostolic administrator since Bishop Gerow’s retirement in 1966.
St. Paul VI would have been the pope to divide Mississippi into two dioceses by splitting the Diocese of Natchez-Jackson into the Diocese of Jackson and the Diocese of Biloxi in 1977. St. Paul VI had appointed Bishop Joseph Howze as auxiliary in 1972. When the diocese was divided, St. Paul VI appointed Bishop Howze as the first Bishop of Biloxi.
Pope St. John XXIII (1958 – 1963) was too busy with his aggiornamento and calling the Second Vatican Council to name any bishops for our diocese. Pope Blessed John Paul I served only one month in 1978 from August to September.
Pope Francis (2013 – 2025) appointed our current chief shepherd, Bishop Joseph Kopacz, who will turn 75 in September of this year. God willing, it will be up to Pope Leo XIV to appoint our next bishop sometime after that.
Habemus papam!
(Mary Woodward is Chancellor and Archivist for the Diocese of Jackson.)
Announcement of Pope Leo XIV at Catholic Schools across the diocese
The election of a new Pope is a momentous event in the Catholic Church, and it reflects the unity and diversity of the global community. It was heartwarming to see students come together to witness this historic moment, share their thoughts, and discuss what it might mean for our faith and the world.
SOUTHAVEN – The level of excitement at the announcement that the newly elected pope was an American was evident in the faces of many students at Sacred Heart School. Left to right, front: Sergio Aurioles, Lucas Delgado and Benjamin Baskin. (Photo by Bridget Martin)JACKSON – St. Richard students applaud at the annoucement of Pope Leo XIV. (Photo by Celeste Saucier)GREENVILLE – Principal Craig Mandolini awaits announcement of the new pope along with St. Joseph students during lunch. (Photo by Nikki Thompson)JACKSON – Pre-K students at Sister Thea Bowman School await the announcement of the next pope. (Photo by Christopher Payne)MADISON – St. Anthony third graders didn’t want to miss a historic moment while on a field trip to the Petrified Forest, so they viewed the announcement of Pope Leo XIV from their teacher’s cell phone! (Photo by Anne Cowger)NATCHEZ – Cathedral School second grader, Jack Ryan jumps up in applause for Pope Leo XIV – the first American pope. (Photo by Brandi Boles)MADISON – Students at St. Joseph School eagerly await the announcement of the new pope on Thursday, May 8. Many students of Catholic schools throughout the diocese followed the papal conclave awaiting white smoke from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel. (Photo by Dr. Dena Kinsey)COLUMBUS – Middle school students at Annunciation took lunch in classrooms so they could hear the moment that a new pope was announceed to the world. (Photo by Jacque Hince)
By Cindy Wooden VATICAN CITY (CNS) – Cardinal Robert F. Prevost, the Chicago-born prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops under Pope Francis, was elected the 267th pope May 8 and took the name Pope Leo XIV.
He is the first North American to be elected pope and, before the conclave, was the U.S. cardinal most mentioned as a potential successor of St. Peter.
The white smoke poured from the chimney on the roof of the Sistine Chapel at 6:07 p.m. Rome time and a few minutes later the bells of St. Peter’s Basilica began to ring.
About 20 minutes later the Vatican police band and two dozen members of the Pontifical Swiss Guard marched into St. Peter’s Square. They soon were joined by the marching band of the Italian Carabinieri, a branch of military police, and by units of the other branches of the Italian military.
As soon as news began to spread, people from all over Rome ran to join the tens of thousands who were already in the square for the smoke watch. Rome Mayor Roberto Gualtieri was among them.
French Cardinal Dominique Mamberti, protodeacon of the College of Cardinals, appeared on the central balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica at 7:12 p.m. He told the crowd: “I announce to you a great joy. We have a pope (‘Habemus papam’),” saying the cardinal’s name in Latin and announcing the name by which he will be called.
Pope Leo XIV, the former Cardinal Robert F. Prevost, waves to the crowds in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican after his election as pope May 8, 2025. The new pope was born in Chicago. (CNS photo/Lola Gomez)
Ten minutes later, the new Pope Leo came out onto the balcony, smiling and waving to the crowd wearing the white papal cassock, a red mozzetta or cape and a red stole to give his first public blessing “urbi et orbi” (to the city and the world).
The crowd shouted repeatedly, “Viva il papa” or “Long live the pope” as Pope Leo’s eyes appeared to tear up.
“Peace be with you,” were Pope Leo’s first words to the crowd.
“My dear brothers and sisters, this is the first greeting of the risen Christ, the good shepherd who gave his life for God’s flock,” he said, praying that Christ’s peace would enter people’s hearts, their families and “the whole earth.”
The peace of the risen Lord, he said, is “a peace that is unarmed and disarming.”
Signaling strong continuity with the papacy of Pope Francis, Pope Leo told the crowd that God “loves all of us unconditionally” and that the church must be open to everyone.
“We are all in God’s hands,” he said, so “without fear, united, hand in hand with God and with each other, let us go forward.”
He thanked the cardinals who elected him, apparently on the fourth ballot of the conclave, “to be the successor of Peter and to walk with you as a united church always seeking peace, justice” and together being missionary disciples of Christ.
Telling the crowd that he was an Augustinian, he quoted St. Augustine, who said, “With you I am a Christian and for you a bishop.”
“Together we must try to be a missionary church, a church that builds bridges and always dialogues, that is always open to receiving everyone like this square with its arms open to everyone, everyone in need,” he said.
The new bishop of Rome told the people of his diocese and of the whole Catholic Church, “We want to be a synodal church, a church that journeys, a church that seeks peace always, that always seeks charity, that wants to be close to people, especially those who are suffering.”
After asking the crowd to recite the Hail Mary with him, Pope Leo gave his first solemn blessing.
Cardinals over the age of 80, who were not eligible to enter the conclave, joined the crowd in the square. Among them were Cardinals Seán P. O’Malley, the retired archbishop of Boston; Donald W. Wuerl, the retired archbishop of Washington; and Marc Ouellet, retired prefect of the Congregation for Bishops. A longtime missionary in Peru, the 69-year-old pope holds both U.S. and Peruvian citizenship.
La Repubblica, the major Italian daily, described him April 25 as “cosmopolitan and shy,” but also said he was “appreciated by conservatives and progressives. He has global visibility in a conclave in which few (cardinals) know each other.”
That visibility comes from serving as prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops for the past two years, he was instrumental in helping Pope Francis choose bishops for many Latin-rite dioceses, he met hundreds of bishops during their “ad limina” visits to Rome and was called to assist Latin-rite bishops “in all matters concerning the correct and fruitful exercise of the pastoral office entrusted to them.”
The new pope was serving as bishop of Chiclayo, Peru, when Pope Francis called him to the Vatican in January 2023.
During a talk at St. Jude Parish in Chicago in August, the then-cardinal said Pope Francis nominated him “specifically because he did not want someone from the Roman Curia to take on this role. He wanted a missionary; he wanted someone from outside; he wanted someone who would come in with a different perspective.”
In a March 2024 interview with Catholic News Service, he said Pope Francis’ decision in 2022 to name three women as full members of the dicastery, giving them input on the selection of bishops “contributes significantly to the process of discernment in looking for who we hope are the best candidates to serve the church in episcopal ministry.”
To deter attitudes of clericalism among bishops, he said, “it’s important to find men who are truly interested in serving, in preaching the Gospel, not just with eloquent words, but rather with the example and witness they give.”
In fact, the cardinal said, Pope Francis’ “most effective and important” bulwark against clericalism was his being “a pastor who preaches by gesture.”
In an interview in 2023 with Vatican News, then-Cardinal Prevost spoke about the essential leadership quality of a bishop.
“Pope Francis has spoken of four types of closeness: closeness to God, to brother bishops, to priests and to all God’s people,” he said. “One must not give in to the temptation to live isolated, separated in a palace, satisfied with a certain social level or a certain level within the church.”
“And we must not hide behind an idea of authority that no longer makes sense today,” he said. “The authority we have is to serve, to accompany priests, to be pastors and teachers.”
As prefect of the dicastery then-Cardinal Prevost also served as president of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America, where nearly 40% of the world’s Catholics reside.
A Chicago native, he also served as prior general of the Augustinians and spent more than two decades serving in Peru, first as an Augustinian missionary and later as bishop of Chiclayo.
Soon after coming to Rome to head the dicastery, he told Vatican News that bishops have a special mission of promoting the unity of the church.
“The lack of unity is a wound that the church suffers, a very painful one,” he said in May 2023. “Divisions and polemics in the church do not help anything. We bishops … must accelerate this movement toward unity, toward communion in the church.”
In September, a television program in Peru reported on the allegations of three women who said that then-Bishop Prevost failed to act against a priest who sexually abused them as minors. The diocese strongly denied the accusation, pointing out that he personally met with the victims in April 2022, removed the priest from his parish, suspended him from ministry and conducted a local investigation that was then forwarded to the Vatican. The Vatican said there was insufficient evidence to proceed, as did the local prosecutor’s office.
Pope Leo was born Sept. 14, 1955, in Chicago, Illinois. He holds a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from the Augustinian-run Villanova University in Pennsylvania and joined the order in 1977, making his solemn vows in 1981. He holds a degree in theology from the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago and a doctorate from the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome.
He joined the Augustinian mission in Peru in 1985 and largely worked in the country until 1999 when he was elected head of the Augustinians’ Chicago-based province. From 2001 to 2013, he served as prior general of the worldwide order. In 2014, Pope Francis named him bishop of Chiclayo, in northern Peru, and the pope asked him also to be apostolic administrator of Callao, Peru, from April 2020 to May 2021. The new pope speaks English, Spanish, Italian, French, Portuguese and can read Latin and German.
