“Augustinian” is the word most often used to describe the cast of mind of Pope Leo XIV. He used it himself in his first papal blessing on May 8: “I am an Augustinian, a son of St. Augustine.” There are two senses to the word, and he fulfills both. In one sense it means that he is a member of the Order of St. Augustine (OSA) — the Augustinians.

As the first pope from the United States and a dual citizen of America and Peru, Pope Leo XIV — a native of the Windy City — is emerging as a symbol of hope for those seeking a more compassionate approach to immigration,