I Am a Son of Saint Augustine: Pope Leo XIV on His Favorite Saint

by Matthew Becklo, Margaret Atkins (Foreword)

When Pope Leo XIV, the first pope from the United States, emerged onto the loggia of Saint Peter’s Basilica, he introduced himself to the world as “a son of Saint Augustine.” From his early formation and priesthood to his missionary work and leadership in the Order of Saint Augustine, the life of Robert Prevost has been shaped at every turn by this great Doctor of the Church.

In this unique collection, you will come to know the mind and heart of Pope Leo through his reflections on Augustine’s life, thought, and spirituality, gathered from both before and after his election to the papacy. Included are excerpts from Prevost’s doctoral dissertation, original translations of messages delivered in Spanish, rare passages from book forewords, and references to Augustine in Pope Leo’s early audiences, homilies, and speeches.

This portrait of a thoroughly Augustinian pope is also rounded out by a timeline of Prevost’s life, the full text of The Rule of Saint Augustine, and an insightful foreword by Sister Margaret Atkins, a canoness of the Order of Saint Augustine at Boarbank Hall in England.

Deeply informative yet highly readable, I Am a Son of Saint Augustine is the perfect introduction to the new head of the Catholic Church—a true son of his spiritual father.

Genres: Catholic, Christianity

89 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 23, 2026

Reviews

[Kavanaugh Kohls · Rating 3 out of 5]

A perfectly pleasant collection of quotes from the Holy Father's previous works. Provides excellent insight into his spiritual foundations as an Augustinian.

[Todd · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fairly light and easy read. The editor used select quotes from Pope Leo XIV's speeches and writings about being an Augustinian and St. Augustine to give the reader an idea of what Pope Leo's orientation is. The title comes from Pope Leo XIV's declaration, "I am a son of Saint Augustine." Hence, Becklo thought it important to explore what that means to Pope Leo in his own words.

There seems to be some repetition of quotes used, so the reader will feel a sense of deja vu by the end of the book, even in spite of its brevity. Also, a reader not already deeply steeped in Pope Leo's communications about the Augustinian order and its founder will have to trust that Becklo provided us a representative, fair, and relevant sampling. I found nothing that raised my suspicions or caused me to doubt Becklo, but then again, Cardinal Robert Provost was not one to whom I had paid much attention prior to his elevation to Pope Leo XIV. Contrast this with, say, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, with whom I was reasonably familiar prior to his elevation to Pope Benedict XVI.

Anyway, it's mildly illuminating and inspiring. I felt it gave me a small window in the new Pope's thinking and background, but I am not walking away considering myself an expert or deeply or intimately familiar with him. For the curious, it is worth the short time required to read, but if your curiosity is especially hungry, you will definitely need to add other titles. A good read.

[Melissa Schwenneker · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good book, but not quite the intellectual experience I had hoped for.

Saint Augustine remains one of the most fascinating figures in the history of philosophy and Christianity, particularly because of his understanding of human nature, free will, desire, and the struggle between reason and faith.

While this book offers an interesting glimpse into the influence of Augustine on Pope Leo XIV, I found it more introductory than illuminating. The reflections are sincere and meaningful, but at times repetitive, with little exploration of the deeper philosophical tensions that make Augustine’s work so compelling.

I would have appreciated more intellectual depth, more examination of difficult questions, and less emphasis on affirmation.

Perhaps my disappointment comes from expecting a deeper encounter with Augustine’s thought rather than a collection of reflections on his spiritual influence.

Worth reading, certainly, but it left me with more curiosity than satisfaction.Because at the end Saint Augustine is one of my favorites talking about HOPE!

[Liz DeLise · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful book of nuggets from the Holy Father.

[Oleh Fylyk · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pleasant selection of quotes

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just wanted to find out more about Saint Augustine through Pope Leo's eyes.

[Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Pope Leo, this book is great. I enjoyed the short excerpts, makes it very easy to read and, no doubt, revisit!