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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider Visayas devider Pope Leo XIV deeply connected to Cebu

Pope Leo XIV deeply connected to Cebu

Visited province 5 times

Published May 9, 2025 09:44 pm
CEBU CITY – The 267th Bishop of Rome has deep connections with Cebu.
PARISHIONERS and nuns pray during morning Mass at the Santa Maria Cathedral, the episcopal see of the Diocese of Chiclayo, Peru, where newly elected Pope Leo XIV served as bishop, Friday, May 9, 2025. (AP)
Pope Leo XIV, then known as Fr. Robert Francis Prevost, visited Cebu at least five times.
The election of Pope Leo XIV as successor of Pope Francis was extra special not just for Cebuanos but also for the Augustinian friars at the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño de Cebu (BMSN).
“When we received the news, we received it with great joy, and at the same time with great pride because for the first time in history, we have a Augustinian Pope. It feels great not just for Augustinians but also for Cebuanos because our Pope has already visited our place,” said Fr. Jules Almerez, OSA, media liaison of BMSN.
Almerez said he was still a freshman in the seminary when he met the newly elected Pope in 2010.
“As the Prior General, he has this aura that commands respect. At first, we were hesitant to approach him, but when he saw us, he smiled at us. During the Mass, he told us that we were fortunate because aboard, the vocation is dwindling. He advised us to continue our journey because our journey was towards God,” Almerez said.
Born in Chicago, Illinois, in 1955, Pope Leo XIV joined the Augustinian Order in the early 1980s. He became the Prior General of the Augustinian Order in 2001.
The Pope joined the Congregation for Bishops in 2020, before being appointed Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops in 2023.
Pope Leo XIV first visited Cebu in 2004 as Prior General of the Augustinians. During his visit, he blessed the friary of the Santo Niño Parish in Barangay Mohon, Talisay City.
Fr. Jonas Mejares, who was the parish priest at the time of the visit, said Pope Leo XIV led the blessing of the friary.
“He speaks with clarity and precision,” said Mejares.
Pope Leo XIV was invited to attend last January’s Fiesta Señor. He failed to make it due to scheduling conflicts but sent a video message to honor the occasion.
Pope Leo XIV also visited Cebu in 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2012.
Almerez said Augustinian friars are hoping that the Pope would be able to celebrate Mass in future Fiesta Señor celebrations similar to what he did during his third visit in Cebu in 2009.

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