The election of Pope Leo XIV has many people in the United States, Latin America, and Italy sharing about the connections they share with him. I myself recently read that the pope's favorite saint—according to a priest who is his friend—is the Augustinian mystic Nicholas of Tolentino.
I often visit a cousin of mine who lives in the Bronx. There is a beautiful Catholic Church in his neighborhood, but I did not know what the name of the Church was, and I had no idea the priests in charge were Augustinians. When Pope Leo was elected, I read that this church is in fact the only Augustinian parish in the State of New York. Its name: St Nicholas of Tolentine!
Before becoming pope, Cardinal Robert Prevost actually visited this church. One of the priests there said he has known the pope for many years. Ironically, I visited the church a few days after the conclave was over.
This Augustinian church serves a vibrant but oppressed community in the Bronx. The priests celebrate Mass in three languages: English, Spanish, and Vietnamese. Many parishioners were proud that a member of the religious order in charge of their parish is now the Bishop of Rome. They quickly put a photo of the new pope near the altar.
One parishioner told me there was a gathering of the Augustinian family in Philadelphia in May. Cardinal Prevost was going to be there.
“Now that he is the pope, I think we will probably see him another time,” he joked.
I am very hopeful with the election of Pope Leo. He has had some experiences that I have been blessed to have lived as well, which have made me a better person. He, too, is probably thankful for these learning opportunities.
I was born in New York City, the son of immigrants from the Dominican Republic. I am a dual citizen of the United States and my parents’ home country. The Pope is also a dual citizen, and a descendant of immigrants.
I have lived half of my life in the United States and the other in the Dominican Republic. It has been a blessing to learn from Catholics, religious, and secular people in Latin America, the Caribbean, and the United States about fighting for justice and against capitalism. Pope Leo spent many years of his ministry in Peru, where I’m sure he learned similar lessons.
Pope Leo even visited the Dominican Republic when he was superior general of the Augustinians. A Franciscan priest I know there taught a class I took when I was a Jesuit. After the conclave I saw his twin brother, who is an Augustinian priest, speaking about the new pope on the news. He has met him and said that before he was a bishop, Prevost even took him to a baseball game in Chicago. Perhaps we also have in common that we enjoy the simple things in life.
Of course, I was also happy to learn about Pope Leo’s Black ancestry, as my ancestors, too, came from Africa to the New World.
Hearing Pope Leo's first statements, including support for the people of Gaza, Ukraine, and other oppressed people, made me realize the experiences we share have truly made an impact on his life. He also spoke in Italian and Spanish, but not English. Maybe this was a reminder to the Church and to Americans that the United States and the English-speaking world are not the center of the universe.
I am grateful to have experienced the beauty of the Catholic Church in the different communities and cultures in the Dominican Republic, the United States, and Haiti. This has taught me to love, be respectful and appreciate the diversity of the Church.
In these opening months of his pontificate, I pray that Pope Leo can use all the positive things he has learned from oppressed people in Peru, the United States, Italy, and around the world to guide the Church to be an instrument of peace, justice, and liberation. May it be so.
Félix Cepeda is a former Jesuit brother who served in the Dominican Republic. He is an intersectional, anti-capitalist Catholic activist working in New York City and the Dominican Republic.
