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Since Pope Leo XIV is an Augustinian, I thought it would be good to write a series of columns on Augustinian saints. Since I am writing this column on May 22, I thought it would be good to begin the series with a saint we commemorate today: Saint Rita of Cascia. She is a patron saint of difficult marriages, impossible causes, infertility, and parenthood.

Who are the Augustinians? They have come into prominence with the election of Pope Leo XIV (formerly Robert Cardinal Prevost, OSA), who is a member of the Augustinian Order. Some may remember the Augustinians because they staffed Archbishop Carroll High School in Washington, DC from its founding in 1951 until 1989. I first encountered the Augustinians when I came to Villanova University as a freshman in September 1967. I met many Augustinians in my four years at Villanova. But I did not meet Bob Prevost, who was enrolled at Villanova two years after I graduated from there in 1971.

Much has happened since I wrote last week’s column. The Cardinal electors entered the conclave on Wednesday, May 7. By Thursday (May 8) afternoon we heard the news that a new Pope had been elected: Pope Leo XIV, formerly Robert Cardinal Prevost, OSA, who is a native of the southside of Chicago. I did not think that in my lifetime I would see someone born in the United States become Pope. But it happened. Like many alumni of Villanova University, I take great pride that a Villanovan has ascended the throne of Peter.

By the time you read this column, the Cardinals eligible to elect a new Pope may have concluded their work, the world may have seen the white smoke, and Dominique Cardinal Mamberti may have announced that we have a Pope using the Latin: Habemus Papam. But as I write this column, we are waiting for the conclave to begin. John Allen, the editor of Crux, which offers well-regarded and independent coverage of the Vatican and the Catholic Church, has been writing about the “papabile” of the day: Cardinals whom he thinks have a chance to be elected Pope. Here are some of the Cardinals that he has profiled: Robert Francis Cardinal Prevost, Anders Cardinal Arborelius, Mario Cardinal Grech, Cristóbal Cardinal López Romero, and Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith. John Allen is aware of the Italian saying that a “papabile” often goes into a conclave only to come out of it as a cardinal.

On Saturday April 26, 2025, Pope Francis was buried at the Basilica of Saint Mary Major in Rome. Since that day, the entire Church has been in mourning over the death of our Holy Father, Pope Francis. Our parish has joined the various cathedrals, basilicas, other parish churches, shrines, and chapels in praying for the repose of his soul and asking God to bestow his infinite mercy on the man who served the Church as the Bishop of Rome.