The Prior Provincial of the Augustinian Province of St. John of Sahagún He is already counting the hours to receive the man who, for many years, was his immediate superior and with whom he has ties of fraternity and friendship.
This Augustinian Province is made up, in addition to Spain and Portugal, of 7 other vicariates (Argentina, India, Iquitos in Peru, The Antilles, Panama, Tanzania and Venezuela) and two delegations (Central America and Cuba). A reality that strengthens the ties of Pope Leo with his Augustinian friars present in Spain.
Leo XIV, a «son of St. Augustine», as he defined himself on the day of his election, is visiting Spain and, in this context, he will meet with his Augustinian brothers. It is a moment of special joy for the Augustinian family, which is preparing this trip with special enthusiasm: schools, monasteries and the different realities linked to the spirituality of the Augustinian Recollects. St. Augustine, will accompany the Pope on these days.
In the midst of this din, Fr. Domingo shared with Omnes his joy and enthusiasm for a fraternal and festive meeting and the importance of the Pope's visit to Spain.
How is the Augustinian family living these days of preparation for the coming of the Pope, «son of St. Augustine»?
- The Order of Saint Augustine and the entire Augustinian Family in Spain, known as the Spanish Augustinian Family, are living these days of preparation for the visit of the Pope with great joy and, at the same time, making a great effort to prepare for the visit as the Church in Spain is doing, to organize the participation of many young people and families in the events that will take place in Madrid and other cities. Concretely the Spanish Augustinian Family has organized a web page (agustinosconelpapa.es) to motivate and follow the Pope's visit to Spain.
A prayer vigil for the Augustinian Family is scheduled for June 5 at 8:00 p.m. in the Church of the Comendadoras de Santiago in Madrid. Later, on June 6, at 12:30 p.m., there will be a sending Eucharist for the Augustinian Family at Colegio San Agustín, in Madrid. There will be a morning of sharing and celebration of sending forth for the pilgrims of the Augustinian family before participating in the vigil with the Pope.
In addition to all the events mentioned above and other acts of the visit in which we will participate, there are two that have a special resonance for us. They are the meeting that we will have with the Holy Father on June 7 at the Nunciature and the visit of the Pope to the Parish of St. Augustine in Barcelona, which we Augustinians attend. In this parish, on June 10, there will be a meeting of the Holy Father with the diocesan charity and assistance realities.
What will you convey to the Pope during your meeting on Sunday?
- The Augustinians will have a meeting with the Holy Father at the Nunciature on the afternoon of June 7. It is a great joy for us.
Most of us Spanish Augustinians know Pope Leo from his visits of renewal to the communities, from his participation in the provincial chapters and from other presences on the occasion of important events of the Order in Spain. Some of us have had the opportunity to greet the Pope during the General Chapter of the Order, celebrated in Rome in September 2025.
However, most Augustinians have not been able to meet with the Holy Father since he was elected and this fact makes us very grateful to have this meeting.
In this meeting, first of all, we want to listen to the Pope; listen to his words and see what he says to the Augustinians in Spain. We will transmit to him a message of gratitude for his visit; a message of fraternity, of support and of attentive listening to his words and indications.
Leo XIV knows very well the reality of the Spanish Augustinian family. What memories do you have of Robert Prevost's frequent visits to Spain?
- The Province of San Juan de Sahagún arose in 2020 from the union of the four provinces that the Order had in Spain. In the years that Fr. Robert Prevost, being Prior General of the Order, visited Spain there were more provincial chapters than now. This fact made him come more times for this reason. He was also present in the visits of renewal to the communities and in other important events for the Order in Spain.
The greatest memory that I can point out is that of meeting a close and cordial person; a well-prepared person as he manifested in the chapters or in other meetings. Fr. Robert Prevost lived the fraternity with the brothers in a very normal way when he visited the communities, participating in the events of the houses and taking care of the tasks and activities of the brothers and the communities.
Among the significant memories we keep are his presence at the Intermediate General Chapter held in San Lorenzo de El Escorial in 2004, his presence at the Provincial Chapter of the Province of Spain in 2010 and the visit to the Monastery of Silos with the capitulars and his presence at the Monastery of El Escorial to receive Pope Benedict XVI, on the occasion of World Youth Day in 2011.
The Pope frequently quotes St. Augustine. Are Catholics rediscovering this Father of the Church and his spirituality?
- I am convinced that these facts will contribute to making St. Augustine much better known.
St. Augustine has been well known in the Church throughout the centuries and, concretely, he has been much quoted in the Second Vatican Council. Pope Benedict XVI, an expert on St. Augustine, has also widely disseminated his thought.
I believe that the fact that Leo XIV is an Augustinian and frequently quotes St. Augustine will increase his knowledge much more and reach many more people, beyond the world of theology.
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