Pinoys share encounters with Cardinal Robert Prevost before he became Pope Leo XIV
Who would've guessed that the new pope already has a history with the Philippines?
Cardinal Robert Prevost was elected the new head of the Catholic Church earlier on May 9 and will be known as Pope Leo XIV. This marks the first time an American has been chosen as pontiff, succeeding Pope Francis.
In light of his new role, many Filipinos are sharing their past encounters with him during his multiple visits to the Philippines on social media.
Filipino Augustinian priest Fr. Genesis Labana shared some pictures that he took of Leo when he visited the Philippines from Sept. 19 to 30, 2010. This was when the Order of Saint Augustine held their Intermediate General Chapter in the country.
Pope Leo XIV could be seen presiding Mass in different venues, such as the San Agustin Church in Intramuros, Colegio San Agustin — Biñan, and the University of Regina Carmeli in Malolos, Bulacan.
In a separate Facebook post, Labana shared that he met Pope Leo XIV on January 1, months before he was elected as Francis' successor.
"My New Year's Day was with him in a very short and tense moment. Who would have thought that this would be my closest and recent picture with him?" Labana wrote. "Where we are at is the chapel of Saint Monica. Before he was made into a Cardinal-Bishop by the late Pope Francis, this was his titular Church."
"With him becoming Leo today is also a joyful day. For the Augustinians, in our liturgical calendar, we are celebrating today, May 8, 2025, the memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary of the Our Lady of Grace, the first Marian devotion of the Augustinian Order. More than just a coincidence but truly a manifestation of the wisdom and guidance of the [B]lessed Virgin Mother under her protection," he added.
Another Filipino Augustinian priest, Jonas Mejares, also had a chance to meet Pope Leo XIV in April.
"OMG! We have just met and talked last month! Thank you Lord for giving us a new Pope, Pope Leo XIV!" he captioned his pictures with the pope on Facebook.
Fellow Filipino Carlo Olayta was also delighted to discover that he had already shared a moment with the future pontiff back when he was just a teen in 2010. Their encounter happened during the solemn profession of Sr. Agnes Park of the Augustinian Monastery of Mother of Good Counsel in Tungkong Mangga, San Jose del Monte, Bulacan.
"We were able to meet then Rev. Fr. Robert Francis Prevost, who was then the Prior General of the Order of St. Augustine. Never in my wildest dreams that I will have the chance to meet the man who will one day sit on the Chair of St. Peter. We pray for you Pope Leo XIV!" Olayta gushed.
Meanwhile, in a picture shared on Seminario San Agustin Intramuros Manila's Facebook page, it was revealed that Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle had already met the American pontiff in 2013 during the blessing of their Postulancy Building in Manila.
Augustinian Churches' encounter with Pope Leo XIV
Several Augustinian Churches in the Philippines also shared some of their treasured encounters with Pope Leo XIV.
The Augustinian Province of Santo Niño de Cebu-Philippines looked back at the time when the new pontiff visited them and posed for pictures with a few of their friars.
Pope Leo XIV has also honored the Sto. Niño de Cebu Parish in Talisay City, Cebu with his presence when he visited the community for the blessing of its Augustinian friary.
"He solemnly led the Augustinian friars and the faithful in dedicating the new residence, entrusted to the pastoral care of those called to proclaim the Gospel in the city," the parish said in their post.
"Our community cherishes the memory of that visit all the more deeply, as we now recognize it as a moment touched by the future successor of Saint Peter — a shepherd who once walked among us, and now guides the Universal Church," they added.
Per the Seminario San Agustin Intramuros Manila, Pope Leo XIV also visited in November 2008 when he celebrated Mass to inaugurate the Augustinian community’s formation house in Manila.
Aged 69 and originally from Chicago, Pope Leo XIV had spent most of his career as a missionary in Peru and became a cardinal only in 2023. He has given few media interviews and rarely speaks in public.
Get to know Pope Leo XIV more by following this link.
