Following in Saint Teresa’s Footsteps

By Lorena Pacho and Rocio Lancho Garcia

L’Osservatore Romano Spanish Edition

Brother Leo was Saint Francis of Assisi’s favourite companion, as well as his confessor, faithful secretary, and nurse. Now, symbolically, Pope Leo XIV succeeds Pope Francis. Already, in the early stages of the new papacy, profound spiritual continuities are emerging that link the new pontiff to his predecessor, with particular sensitivity.

Once again, the image of a white rose lying on the tombstone of Francis’ simple burial place in the Basilica of Saint Mary Major comes to mind, as a reminder of what that flower represented for him: the soul of the Church that blooms quietly, in simplicity, discreet beauty, inner purity, proof of Saint Thérèse of Lisieux’s intercession. Pope Leo XIV also has a strong devotion to a Saint Teresa, in this case, Saint Teresa of Jesus of Avila, Doctor of the Church. She was a great “teacher of prayer” for Francis, who highlighted the discovery of Christ’s humanity in the Saint’s encounter with Jesus.

The new Pope, then Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, has visited Spain multiple times, most recently less than one year ago. In that particularly symbolic visit, in September 2024, the Cardinal visited the Diocese of Avila, where he and a group of faithful made a pilgrimage to Saint Teresa of Jesus’ place of birth in Avila. Luis Carlos, a Carmelite from the city’s Discalced convent, shared his memories of that event with L’Osservatore Romano. He recalled that Cardinal Prevost arrived at the convent to celebrate an early morning Mass in the conventual Basilica of Saint Teresa of Jesus, motivated by his desire to follow in the footsteps of the Doctor of the Church, and to dive deeper into her spirituality. “It was a very moving and simple moment”, the Carmelite recalled. He was on his way to hear confessions and the doorman told him that the Cardinal was there. “I approached him to say hello, and he said to me, ‘Father, how are you? Good morning’. We have come here following in Saint Teresa’s footsteps with this little group of pilgrims”. The Carmelite described him as an approachable and good-natured person.

This testimony highlights the spiritual and personal dimension of the person who now leads the Church, as well as his connection to the tradition of Teresa, whose spirituality he sought out in the city where she was born more than 500 years ago.

The Cardinal even signed the guestbook at the Basilica of Saint Teresa, on 22 September 2024. It has already become a spiritual treasure for the faithful. “Robert Cardinal Prevost O.S.A. — Vatican”, the text reads, handwritten in blue ink.

Also in the province of Avila, the Augustinian sisters at the Monastery of the Conversion in Sotillo de La Adrada remembered Pope Leo XIV with joy and excitement. They have known the newly elected pontiff, himself an Augustinian, for more than a decade. When he was still a Cardinal, they sent him an invitation to their monastery to celebrate the conclusion of the Jubilee for their community’s 25th anniversary, next September.

Sister Carmen Toledano highlighted his humility and simplicity and remembered him as “a missionary. And now, a missionary in Rome, a missionary of the Church in Rome”.

His visit to Avila was not the only time he travelled to Spain. He also went to Malaga nearly two decades ago. There, he visited the members of the Order of Saint Augustine at the Colegio de Los Olivos, being their Prior General. Another Spanish city he visited was Valladolid. In May of 2008, as the Prior General of the Augustinian Order, he visited the Estudio Teológico Agustiniano, where he participated in the celebration of the institution’s 40th anniversary.