Pope Leo XIV, formerly known as the Rev. Robert Prevost, explored the nature of religious leadership in his doctoral thesis, focusing on how authority should be exercised by local Augustinian superiors. According to the rector of the university where he studied, Prevost emphasized the idea that authority in religious life should be rooted in service rather than power a concept drawn from the teachings of St. Augustine.
This subject has long been studied by scholars, but it has taken on new relevance in recent years due to growing concerns over the abuse of authority within religious communities. Numerous cases have come to light where superiors misused their position and the obedience owed to them for personal or even criminal gain, including sexual misconduct.
Prevost’s academic focus aligns closely with the responsibilities he has taken on throughout his career. He served as the head of the Augustinian order from 2001 to 2012, then as bishop of Chiclayo, Peru, from 2014 to 2023. Most recently, he led the Vatican’s Dicastery for Bishops, a role he held from 2023 until his election as pope last week. The dicastery not only oversees the global appointment of bishops but also investigates cases where bishops are accused of abusing their authority.
Rev. Thomas Joseph White, rector of the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome, known as the Angelicum, recalled Prevost’s time at the university between 1981 and 1985. White described Prevost’s thesis in canon law as a “very mature and nuanced” work, especially considering his age at the time, Prevost would have been in his late twenties.
White noted that Prevost was particularly focused on the role of religious authority in light of the modernizing reforms introduced during the Second Vatican Council. These reforms, along with the Church’s revised legal code adopted in 1983, were central to the academic environment at the Angelicum while Prevost was a student.
In a written statement, White said Prevost’s thesis emphasized that any exercise of authority in the Church should serve the broader community and avoid any pursuit of personal power. This perspective closely reflects St. Augustine’s teaching on leadership.
White cited a key line from Prevost’s thesis that captures this idea: “There is no room in Augustine’s concept of authority for one who is self-seeking and in search of power over others,” Prevost wrote.
In another passage, Prevost stated, “The exercise of authority in any Christian community requires the setting aside of all self-interest and a total dedication to the good of the community. This is the attitude which must be adopted as the starting point for an authentic understanding of the role of the local superior.”
Now as Pope Leo XIV, Prevost brings that foundational belief into his leadership of the Catholic Church, which serves 1.4 billion people around the world. His academic and pastoral experience suggests a leadership approach grounded in humility, service, and accountability principles he has studied, practiced, and now carries into the papacy.
