The Augustinians in Uruguay Joyfully Experience Their Encounter with Leo XIV

Five Augustinian friars share the emotion of having participated in the Vespers presided over by the Pope in Montevideo. The Pontiff’s closeness, the renewal of their vocation, and the hope of strengthening the Augustinian presence in Uruguay mark their testimonies.

A smile from the Pope, an anticipated encounter, and an experience that renews one’s vocation. This is how the Augustinian friars in Uruguay describe their participation in the Vespers presided over by Leo XIV on Friday, November 6, in the Metropolitan Cathedral of Montevideo, during his apostolic journey to Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru.

For the friars, the encounter held a particularly intimate meaning. They not only received the Successor of Peter but also a brother who shares their spiritual roots in Saint Augustine. Friar William, Friar Rafael, Friar Wesley, Friar Mauricio, and José Luis shared their impressions after the celebration, agreeing on three sentiments: joy, hope, and renewal.

A Smile the Friars Will Not Forget

Friar William, parish priest of the Augustinian community in Uruguay, especially remembers the moment Leo XIV passed near them. Among the numerous faithful who came to greet him, one gesture remained etched in his memory.

“When he saw us, the Augustinians, he gave us a big smile,” recounts the religious, still moved by the experience.

For Friar William, the celebration was a source of profound joy, both for those who waited for the Pontiff along his route and for those who were able to accompany him inside the cathedral. That smile held a particular meaning: the intimate recognition of a spiritual family that shares the same Augustinian tradition with the Pope.

Friar Rafael, vicar of Santa Rita parish and collaborator in the college’s pastoral care, also experienced the celebration as an opportunity to renew the meaning of his religious dedication.

“Experiencing Vespers with the Holy Father was a moment of renewal and great joy,” he explains.

For him, receiving the Pope in Uruguay represents a grace for the entire Catholic community of the country, but it takes on a special meaning for those who share the spirituality of Saint Augustine with Leo XIV.

Friar Wesley summarizes his experience with few words, but full of meaning. Participating for the first time in Vespers presided over by the Pope represented for him “a great renewal of faith and hope” for Uruguay.

The Augustinian Key: Where Is Our Heart Set?

The friars’ experience finds a special resonance in the homily Leo XIV delivered to the consecrated persons gathered in the cathedral. The Pontiff recalled that the human heart eventually resembles what it loves and warned of the danger of becoming trapped in our works, in recognition, or in the need to have everything under control.

This reflection can be read from one of Saint Augustine’s fundamental insights: the distinction between uti (to use) and frui (to enjoy), developed in his work On Christian Doctrine.

For the Bishop of Hippo, only God can occupy the definitive place in the human heart. Everything else, even our apostolic works, must lead us toward Him. Mission, responsibilities, and pastoral projects find their true meaning when they do not replace the One for whom they are carried out.

Augustine explains this through the image of the pilgrim who, desiring to return to his homeland, risks falling so in love with the comforts of the journey that he ends up forgetting his destination. Therefore, he reminds us:

The image is particularly evocative during an apostolic journey. Works and responsibilities are paths; Christ is the goal. It is not about despising the world, but about ordering our loves so that everything leads us toward God.

From this perspective, the words of Friar Rafael and Friar Wesley about the renewal of their vocation acquire a deeper meaning. The encounter with Leo XIV was also an invitation to remember for whom and for what they have given their lives.

The Pope synthesized this call with an expression that illuminates Augustinian spirituality: “Behold, one of the secrets of evangelization: to resemble the One whom we proclaim.”

The Augustinian Presence in Uruguay Looks to the Future

The celebration also brought together religious who traveled to accompany their brothers. Among them was Friar Mauricio, prior provincial of the Augustinian Province of Brazil, who traveled to Uruguay to share the encounter with the religious community and the faithful of the parish and the college.

“It is a moment of joy and unity with the Church of Montevideo, with the bishops and with the cardinal,” explains the provincial, highlighting the communities’ enthusiasm for the Holy Father’s presence.

For Friar Mauricio, the visit constitutes an event that will remain in the memory of the local Church and the Augustinian family, strengthening the bonds between the religious and the communities they serve.

José Luis expresses himself along the same lines, viewing Leo XIV’s visit as an opportunity to consolidate the Augustinian mission in Uruguay. The encounter, he explains, provides them with “joy and hope” for the Order to grow and strengthen its presence in these lands.

His words introduce a look toward the future. The papal visit not only represents an extraordinary event to remember but also an invitation to strengthen communal life, accompany the faithful, and continue proclaiming the Gospel.

The celebration concluded under the gaze of Our Lady of the Thirty-Three, to whom Leo XIV entrusted those present. Before that, he had asked the consecrated to remain united in love, support each other, and always return to what is essential.

That spirit of communion summarizes what the friars experienced in Montevideo. Between the Pope’s words, the joy of their communities, and the memory of a shared smile, the Augustinians return to their daily mission with renewed conviction: to continue growing in faith, strengthen their presence in Uruguay, and make Christ’s love visible through service.