A new book by Fr Dave Austin OSA tells the story of Pope Leo XIV’s several visits to Australia during his time as Prior General of the Augustinian Order.

The book – Introducing Pope Leo XIV: His Story and Australian Connection – features many photos taken during these visits. In word and image, the reader meets the man – Fr Bob Prevost – who a decade later would become Pope.

*Fr Dave Austin OSA, second from left, at the launch of his book on Pope Leo’s visits to Australia. PHOTO: Supplied.*

Pope Leo was a frequent visitor to Australia during his time as Prior General of the Augustinian Order. Between 2002 and 2010 he visited Australia six times, meeting parishioners in Augustinian parishes in NSW, Victoria and Queensland, as well as meeting students and staff in schools conducted by the Augustinians. Memories of those visits flooded back to many people here when they heard he was elected Pope.

The book begins with a brief outline of Pope Leo’s life, from his birth in Chicago, USA, to his many years of ministry in Peru, his work as Prior General and his activities as Bishop and Cardinal in the service of the Universal Church.

The book also explores key elements of the spirituality bequeathed to the Church by St Augustine, pivotal for Pope Leo XIV who described himself in his opening address to the world as ‘an Augustinian, a son of St Augustine’. His Papal motto ‘In Illo uno unum’ (‘In the One Christ We are One) is taken from St Augustine’s sermon on Psalm 127.

Written by Fr Dave Austin OSA, a former Provincial of the Augustinians in Australia and currently Prior and Associate Pastor at Holy Spirit Parish, St Clair, in western Sydney, the book was launched in St Kieran’s Parish, Manly Vale, NSW, by the present Provincial, Fr Peter Jones OSA on 6 November.

Published by St Pauls Publications, it is available from Catholic bookshops, or direct from St Pauls Publications https://secure.stpauls.com.au/strathfield/introducing-pope-leo-xiv-his-story-and-australian-connection.html