The Augustinians meet "Brother" Leo: He is happy to be in Spain
- Jun 8
- 3 min read
Salvatore Cernuzio – Correspondent in Madrid, Vatican News
This afternoon (June 7, 2026), at the Apostolic Nunciature in Madrid, the Pope received 220 Augustinian Fathers from various communities and various members of the Augustinian family in the country. "He was impressed by the young people, a light for the morning. It gave us courage to move forward and work harder for the people."
"Good, very good. He is happy. I think he feels good here!" Father José María Herranz Maté is one of the Spanish Augustinians present this afternoon, June 7, in the main hall of the Apostolic Nunciature in Madrid, where the Pope met with his brothers for a private conversation. A custom initiated by Pope Francis is to meet, during apostolic journeys, members of the same religious order; Leone continues this tradition and dedicates over an hour to the Augustinians in the program for the second day of his visit to Spain.
The Meeting at the Nunciature
Approximately 220 friars from various communities were present, along with various members of the country's Augustinian family, including the contemplative nuns. In his extemporaneous address, following a greeting from the Prior Provincial, the Pope emphasized the value of their vocation, "also in giving meaning to social action, at a time when silence and the ability to enter into one's own heart are being lost." The Holy See Press Office announced this via its Telegram channel, reporting that the Pontiff addressed all those present with "a few words of gratitude for the possibility of the meeting, emphasizing how “communion” and “unity of heart’ among Augustinians can be a message to the world at this historic moment." "A message to convey to young people," the Press Office emphasized.
Young People, a "Bright light"
During this "beautiful" and "truly family-like" meeting, Father José commented, the Pope dwelt at length on the topic of pastoral care, especially youth ministry. Leo XIV was deeply "impressed" by the young men and women of Spain, the Augustinian explained, referring to the 600,000 people he met in Plaza de Lima last night, who shared their questions, doubts, and spiritual quests with the Pontiff. "He told us that young people are like a light for the morning, a star. In Spanish, un brillo. How do you say it in Italian?" Herranz stated. "He also spoke about youth ministry and all the work we Augustinians do with young people. He thanked us for what we do here in Spain and encouraged us to move forward and work harder for the people of God."
Gratitude and Encouragement
With the Augustinians, Leo XIV also shared his impressions and emotions from these first days of his trip to Spain: "He's happy, he told us." The Pope then invited everyone to pray the Our Father together and imparted his blessing. Finally, he greeted each person present: “He greeted so many people. Everyone! It was a family greeting. And we thanked him for his presence in Spain and for this gesture of meeting with us, for his availability, given that he is so busy but was able to spend almost an hour with us.”
It is “the thanks of his children because he is a Pope who is a father to us,” Herranz concluded. In the coming days, he will follow the other events of the papal trip: “Tomorrow we will be at the Bernabeu. Some of the Council will also go to Barcelona, because there are other meetings there, including with the Augustinian community. He is always available to visit his friars, his brothers.”
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