Nine occasions where Pope Leo has referenced quotes from St. Augustine in his public speeches recapitulated
Pope Leo Embraces St. Augustine's Teachings in His Papacy
Pope Leo, the 276th Pope of the Roman Catholic Church, has shown a deep affinity for the teachings of St. Augustine of Hippo throughout his papacy. This fifth-century bishop is a philosophical and theological heavyweight in Catholic thought, and his influence can be seen in many of the Pope's addresses and speeches.
On August 23, 2025, Pope Leo referenced St. Augustine's work, "The City of God," in an address to the International Catholic Legislators Network. He highlighted its relevance in offering a vision of hope and meaning, especially in today's world.
The pope has given a nod to St. Augustine's thought or quoted him directly on at least 10 occasions. One such instance was in his address to the clergy of the Diocese of Rome on June 12, 2025, where he quoted the saint's heartfelt appeal: "Love this Church, be ye in this holy Church, be ye this Church; love the Good Shepherd, the Spouse so fair, who deceiveth no one, who desireth no one to perish. Pray too for the scattered sheep; that they too may come, that they too may acknowledge Him, that they too may love Him; that there may be One Flock and One Shepherd." (Sermon 138, 10)
Pope Leo's focus on St. Augustine's teachings is not limited to his speeches. His Wednesday general audience catechesis on June 25, 2025, centred on the transformative power of faith, as seen in the healing of the bleeding woman and the resurrection of Jairus' daughter in Mark 5. In his homily, he drew parallels between these biblical events and the transformative power of faith in our lives today.
Moreover, Pope Leo has emphasized the importance of Catholic universities becoming "pathways of the mind towards God." In a message for the 2025 World Day of Migrants and Refugees on July 25, 2025, he underscored that migrants and refugees remind the church of her pilgrim journey to heaven and serve as missionaries of hope.
In his address to the members of the International Inter-Parliamentary Union on June 21, 2025, Pope Leo emphasized St. Augustine's understanding of love and its application in building the city of God on a foundational law of charity. He noted that when the Church becomes "sedentarized" and ceases to be a pilgrim community, it ceases to be "in the world" and becomes "of the world" (cf. Jn 15:19).
As Pope Leo continues his papacy, it is clear that the teachings of St. Augustine will continue to play a significant role in his guidance and vision for the Church. August 28, St. Augustine's feast day, serves as a reminder of the enduring influence of this great theologian and philosopher.
In his homily for the Jubilee of Families, Children, Grandparents, and the Elderly, Pope Leo concluded with a hopeful note: "The prayer of the Son of God, which gives us hope on our journey, also reminds us that one day we will all be uno unum (cf. St. Augustine, Sermo super Ps. 127): one in the one Saviour, embraced by the eternal love of God." This quote, a reminder of the unity we strive for in the Church and in our lives, encapsulates the spirit of Pope Leo's papacy so far.
