By Veronica Roberts Ogle, Public Discourse. (photo: Wikimedia Commons)
As an Augustinian scholar at an Augustinian university, I have been asked a lot recently how it feels to have an Augustinian Pope. Beyond being delighted that he has readily embraced the dictum that singing is praying twice, I am grateful that our new Holy Father seems eager to bring the insights of such a great theological mind to bear on his pontificate. Yet, what might it mean that Pope Leo thinks of himself as a son of Saint Augustine? Without presuming to know what the Holy Spirit had in mind in prompting his election, I would like to offer a few thoughts about how a pope steeped in the life and writings of Augustine might be a healing presence in our wounded world.
In the first place, I am struck by how Augustine’s episcopate offers a rich model for the Holy Father to follow. With access to a wide variety of letters and sermons, we have an excellent picture of how Augustine both taught and led as bishop. Of course, Augustine was a master homilist, effectively rewriting the rules of rhetoric to evangelize his flock. Yet, he was also a conscientious administrator; Augustine took great care to respond to the concerns of his interlocutors, tailoring these responses to the audience in question. This was not simply a matter of getting them on board with an agenda. Rather, it was a matter of pedagogy; Augustine knew that an ongoing witness to truth and love is necessary for shepherding well. For this reason, we often find him responding to hostile reactions by addressing them openly, calling his audience to the charity he strives to inhabit in the process.
All told, Augustine was remarkably transparent about his decision-making process. Throughout his communications, he blends respect for his flock with the pastoral responsibility of guiding them to greater love. Spelling out the variety of concerns he struggled to reconcile, he teaches them the difficulty of leadership and shows how he understands their needs. He gives them reasons to trust him.