Have you ever considered how two leaders from the same church can embody such different spiritual approaches, yet guide towards the same divine light?
Imagine the Vatican, where two Popes walk distinct paths. One, Pope Francis, steps out into the world, his voice reaching the poor and forgotten in distant lands. The other, Pope Leo XIV, turns inward, finding solace in quiet prayer and humble community.
This is a tale of two spiritual traditions, Jesuit and Augustinian, meeting within one Church. We’re exploring the hearts of Pope Francis, the first Jesuit Pope, and Pope Leo XIV, the modern era’s first Augustinian Pope. Their differences aren’t divisions, but rather varied expressions of a faith lived across time, space, action, and stillness.
Pope Francis: The Outward Journey of a Jesuit
Let’s start with Pope Francis, whose spirit naturally leans outward. He hails from the Society of Jesus, the Jesuit order founded by St. Ignatius of Loyola in the 16th century. Jesuit spirituality emerged during an era of exploration and change, and Pope Francis’s leadership reflects this dynamic movement.
From his very first day, Pope Francis chose humility over grandeur, opting for a simple guest house instead of the papal palace. He fearlessly walks the dusty roads of slums and refugee camps, always listening, always searching. For Jesuits, the world isn’t a place to escape, but where God is found. They are trained to seek God in all things – in poverty, politics, culture, and the cries of the suffering. Their rigorous formation, filled with years of study and discernment, prepares them for action.
Pope Francis infuses this training into every decision. When he speaks of a “field hospital church,” he envisions a faith that moves towards the wounded, heals without judgment, and embraces the forgotten. He isn’t afraid of mess; in fact, he says, “I prefer a church that is bruised, hurting, and dirty because it has been out on the streets.”
Pope Leo XIV: The Inward Path of an Augustinian
Now, let’s consider the spiritual journey of Pope Leo XIV, the first modern Augustinian Pope. While Pope Francis walks among crowds, Pope Leo often walks within. His inspiration is St. Augustine, the North African bishop whose restless heart found peace by returning to God. Augustine believed true peace is found by turning inward, to the heart, to God.
Pope Leo XIV carries this belief with him. His spirituality, though quieter, is no less powerful. Where Jesuits respond to the world’s cries, Augustinians listen to its silence. They believe in the sacredness of community, not as a strategy, but as a way of life. Picture a monastery, warm with shared meals, study, prayer, and purpose – this is the Augustinian rhythm, where silence is fullness, not emptiness.
In Pope Leo XIV’s leadership, we see a church that values humility, deep thought, and shared wisdom. He invites the faithful to slow down, listen, and return to what is essential. His preferred words are contemplative: rest, return, remember. While Pope Francis embraces the peripheries, Pope Leo turns towards the soul.
Two Wings of the Same Bird: Action and Contemplation
These two paths, action and contemplation, might seem opposite, but they are not in conflict. They are like the two wings of a bird, enabling the Church to fly. The early Christian church was built on both missionary journeys and quiet community – Paul traveled and preached, while the apostles gathered and prayed. Similarly, Pope Francis’s bold reforms and Pope Leo’s thoughtful stillness are both necessary. They address different moments but serve the same truth.
We see a larger picture that embraces both movement and stillness. Pope Francis showed us a church that goes out, unafraid to confront change and speak to modern issues. Pope Leo XIV, however, reminds us that a church that only runs may forget to breathe. He asks us to rest in God, return to the interior life, and remember our purpose.
Complementary Spiritualities for a Modern World
Today’s world is noisy, with constant demands from social media and global crises. In such times, Pope Leo’s Augustinian heart offers healing and silence. Yet, we also live in a world where suffering, war, hunger, and injustice demand courageous responses. In these moments, Pope Francis’s Jesuit fire lights the way.
These two spiritualities don’t cancel each other; they complete each other. Pope Francis opened the church doors wide, inviting all to enter. Pope Leo XIV guards the sacred flame within those walls, ensuring it doesn’t burn out. One moves in action, the other in stillness, yet both carry the same divine message: God is with us, whether we run or rest.
What Can We Learn?
Faith isn’t one-size-fits-all. Some feel called to engage the world like Pope Francis, driven to heal, speak, and serve. Others are drawn inward like Pope Leo XIV, seeking God in silence, prayer, and community. Sometimes, we are called to do both.
The Church, like life, moves through seasons. There are times to build and times to reflect. These two Popes, from different spiritual paths, teach us how to navigate both with grace, heart, and courage.
So, whether you find yourself running towards the world or retreating into your spirit, know this: both journeys are holy. Both are part of a deeper story. One Church, one faith, many paths.
Your path, whether bold or quiet, is part of God’s unfolding journey.
