After a summer full of activities, Pope Leo XIV began the month of September in a familiar way: he opened the 188th Augustinian General Chapter, which appointed a new Prior General of the order.
POPE LEO XIV
Listening, humility, and unity: these are three useful counsels that the liturgy offers you for the coming days. The invitation is to make them your own, renewing the prayer we addressed to the Lord at the beginning of this celebration.
Weeks later, Father Kevin Joseph Farrell was appointed prior. The opening also coincided with the anniversary of Pope Leo XIV’s entry into the Augustinian order on September 1, 1977.
That was not the only major event that happened in September. This month directly marked one of the most anticipated moments and a defining moment for Pope Leo's first steps as pope.
On September 7, the canonization of saints Carlo Acutis and Pier Giorgio Frassati took place.
POPE LEO XIV
We decree and declare Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati and Carlo Acutis to be Saints, and we enroll them in the Catalogue of Saints, establishing that they be remembered with devout piety among the saints of the universal Church.
If this month is remembered for anything, it is for this great event, which brought 80,000 people to St. Peter’s Square to witness the first canonization presided over by Pope Leo XIV.
Days later, on September 14, the Pope celebrated his first birthday as the successor of Peter, and on that same day, his first interview with a media outlet was published.
Every word of the Pope was examined and analyzed, but for the pontiff there are three values he wanted to focus on and that cannot be lost: the value of human life, the family, and society.
POPE LEO XIV
And very important: families need to be supported. They call it the traditional family. The family is father and mother (and) children. I think that that the role of the family in society, which has at times suffered in recent decades, I think that that once again has to be recognized, strengthened.
One of the most anticipated topics was his view on the LGTBQ community. His stance was one of welcome, but without altering the Church’s doctrine.
POPE LEO XIV
I'm trying not to continue to polarize or promote polarization in the church and I'm trying to say, this is what Francis said very clearly when he would say, “todos, todos todos”, everyone is invited in. But I don't invite a person in because they are or are not of any specific identity. I invite a person in because as a son or daughter of God and say, you're all welcome and let's get to know one another and respect one another.
And an unprecedented concert arrived at the Vatican on September 15: Grace for the World. A major event that brought figures such as Karol G and Andrea Bocelli.
An evening with different voices and styles, united in a plea for peace in the world and for human fraternity.
BAM
