Pope Leo XIV attended a lunch to celebrate the 70th birthday of Father Alejandro Moral, the Prior General of the Augustinian Order. The lunch took place at the International College of St. Monica near the Vatican. The Pope and Father Moral share a long-standing friendship that began in the 1980s when they studied together in Rome. They reconnected later in life, working together in the Augustinian Order. The Pope also planned to watch the Giro d'Italia cyclists pass through Vatican City.
18 days ago
Pope Leo XIV attended a lunch at the Collegio Internazionale Santa Monica to celebrate the 70th birthday of Father Alejandro Moral, the Prior General of the Order of Saint Augustine 1 2 3. The event followed the Pope's Jubilee Mass for families in St. Peter's Square 1 2. The gathering was an intimate affair, attended by Augustinian students and professors, highlighting the strong bond between the Pope and Father Moral 1.
The friendship between Pope Leo XIV (formerly Father Robert Prevost) and Father Moral began in the early 1980s when both were studying in Rome 1 2. Father Prevost studied canon law at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas, while Father Moral focused on Sacred Scripture and Dogmatic Theology 1 2. Their paths diverged when Father Prevost was assigned to missionary work in Peru and Father Moral returned to Spain 1 2. They reunited later, and Father Prevost appointed Father Moral as his Vicar General during his tenure as Prior General 1 2. Father Moral succeeded him as the 97th Prior General in 2013 1 2.
The Pope's visit was not just a birthday celebration but a reaffirmation of their shared values and enduring friendship 1. It exemplified fidelity to their roots and demonstrated how deep friendships can withstand the demands of high office 1. The event highlighted the Augustinian ideals of community life, intellectual pursuit, and spiritual depth, rooted in the Rule of St. Augustine 1 2. It also demonstrated a life of service grounded in humility 1.
The Church values relationships between religious orders and the papacy.
The Catholic Church indeed values the relationships between religious orders and the papacy, viewing these relationships as integral to the Church's holiness, apostolic work, growth, and unity .
The development of religious orders has been closely linked with the Church's mission throughout history . Over time, these orders have evolved in their structure and function, adapting to the changing needs of the Church and the world . The reforms of Cluny and Cîteaux paved the way for the modern understanding of religious orders by centralizing authority under one supreme abbot . Later, figures like St. Francis and St. Dominic further shaped religious orders by uniting their followers into vast associations with internal hierarchical organizations .
The Pope exercises significant authority over religious orders, possessing the power to approve, modify, or even suppress them . This authority is typically exercised through the Sacred Congregation of Religious . Religious institutes are subject principally to the Roman Pontiff, recognizing him as their highest superior . They are at the service of the Roman Pontiff in those works which pertain to the welfare of the universal Church .
Religious orders contribute significantly to the Church through various activities, including education, healthcare, missionary work, and spiritual guidance . Their members, motivated by both the precepts and counsels of Christ, demonstrate Christian perfection through piety, renunciation of worldly comforts, and dedication to spiritual treasures . Religious orders play a crucial role in evangelization, often making great sacrifices for the salvation of souls and the spread of the faith .
The Church emphasizes the importance of harmonious collaboration between religious orders, the Holy See, and the diocesan clergy . Religious are also under the jurisdiction of Bishops, to whom they are bound to give assistance, always without prejudice to the nature of their proper apostolate and the things that are necessary for their religious life . To foster these relationships, regular meetings between bishops and religious superiors are encouraged to discuss matters pertaining to the apostolate in their territories .
Religious vocation belongs to that spiritual fullness which the Spirit himself—the spirit of Christ—brings forth and moulds in the People of God . Without religious orders, without "consecrated" life, by means of the vows of chastity, poverty and obedience, the Church would not be fully herself . Religious orders must prioritize the vertical dimension, emphasizing their relationship with God and bearing witness to the Gospel through their example .
In summary, the relationship between religious orders and the papacy is highly valued in the Catholic Church due to the vital contributions of these orders to the Church's mission, their role in promoting spiritual growth, and the necessity of maintaining unity and cooperation under the Pope's guidance.