He stood by his side for years, first as Procurator, then as Vicar General, and finally as his successor at the helm of the Order of Saint Augustine. On the birthday of Pope Leo XIV, Fr Alejandro Moral Antón recalls a personal and fraternal bond with the current Pontiff, marked by listening, shared work, and community life. From lived experiences to the horizon of peace, the interview also becomes a message of hope: “The Spirit is present and will continue to support him.”
You shared many years of service. What do you remember from that time spent side by side?
It was a precious period. His Holiness, then Prior General Fr Robert Prevost, is a straightforward, welcoming, down-to-earth person.
With him, it was easy to discuss both daily life and matters concerning the Order.
It was a joy to share time and dialogue. In 2004, he asked me to take on the role of Procurator, which I held for nine years. During that period, we finally managed to obtain approval for the Order’s Proper Missal, which had long been awaiting recognition. And I remember one particular detail.
Which one?
During his travels, he personally took care of translating the lengthy prayers of the readings into English. He was always very attentive, not only on a theoretical level but also in the concrete care of necessities.
You also share a generational closeness…
We are the same age. He is a few months younger, and he often reminds me of it with a smile. He came to celebrate my 70th birthday.
(Foto ANSA/SIR)
Will you be meeting him today?
I don’t think so. It will be a special day, marked by many visits and greetings. Perhaps there will be another moment, more private, when we can meet in a more relaxed setting.
At the opening of the General Chapter, Pope Leo XIV offered three words: listening, humility, and unity. How did you receive them?
I found them profoundly true, and I fully share them. If we know how to listen to one another, we can build; if, instead, we remain closed, it opens the door to conflict, which never bears fruit.
Humility is an essential condition: Saint Augustine said that without humility, one cannot move forward. Sometimes it is necessary to give something up in order to receive much more.
And unity is the heart of our charism: living in communion, not as a sum of individuals, but as a community. These three words clearly interpret both our life and the mission of the Order.
We live in a time marked by conflict and tension. In a world struggling to find peace, what role can the Pope play?
His Holiness is a credible guide because he does not pursue personal interests but always seeks the good of all, in the spirit of fraternity.
He is a prophetic voice that we must learn to listen to.
He insists continually on the theme of peace, and I hope that this insistence will touch hearts and bring about true conversion. Inspired by his example, I myself pray for peace every day.
This is also a personally meaningful theme for you…
Yes, I have been entrusted with overseeing matters related to justice and peace. I have always believed that the first step is to look within and ask oneself: “Am I truly a man of peace?” We are not always so, and therefore it requires profound inner work. Pope Francis also encouraged me to initiate dialogue with certain people in this area. It is a difficult task because we often remain stuck in our own convictions: “this is mine”, “you owe me that”. From there, hatred is born, and hatred leads to war. Selfishness is the antithesis of unity. But we must not stop hoping.
(Foto Siciliani-Gennari/SIR)
The Chapter has elected the American Joseph Farrell as the new Prior General. What message would you like to leave to your successor?
I believe the election of Pope Leo XIV was a providential gift for the Order. Through his words and his style, he invites us to reflect and return to the essentials.
Unity, which he indicated as the main path, means communion, community, fraternity. This is what will enable us to continue on the path of renewal.
The Spirit calls us to live in a certain way, while the world often pushes us elsewhere. I choose the Spirit: otherwise, I would not be a religious. I hope the Order will know how to listen, to bear witness, and to attract through the beauty of this life.
Would you like to offer the Pope a birthday wish?
I wish him God’s grace, the strength of the Spirit, and that new life which comes from Him, so that he may continue to build a renewed world. I am certain that he will do so: the Spirit is present and will continue to support him.
And can he always count on the Augustinians?
Certainly. All of us care deeply for the Pope, even on a personal level, and he knows he can count on each of us. The Order will always be ready to offer its help. This is true for every Pontiff, but today, with such a special Augustinian Pope, we feel the strength of this closeness even more. And in truth, it is he who is helping us — enormously.