The Prior General to the Order after the death of Pope Francis: "I will never be able to sufficiently thank him for his support, his advice, his closeness, his fatherly care and his affection"

Following the passing of the Holy Father, Pope Francis, the Prior General of the Order of Saint Augustine, Father Alejandro Moral Antón, urges the Order of Saint Augustine to pray for his eternal rest in an emotional and heartfelt message from someone who knew him closely. "I will never be able to sufficiently thank him for his support, his advice, his closeness, his fatherly care, his affection, and his kindness."

This morning, around 7:30, Pope Francis passed away. When one writes with the deep feeling of loss (on a personal level) of a loved one, there is a risk of not being objective, but it is also true that what "passes through the heart," as we normally say, can enrich the words that are written. 

The Pope passed away on this day of the Octave of Easter when believers can only think of the Resurrection of our Lord and the hope that this event gives us. And we trust that, through God's infinite mercy, our dear Pope Francis, now deceased, can rest alongside eternal Love, to whom he dedicated his entire life, for all eternity. 

Today I wish to thank God for giving us this Pope, a true gift for our Church and for so many non-believers of our time. I dare to say, without hesitation, that all the Popes of recent decades have been exceptional, each serving in their own way, as is proper and to be expected. 

And this one has been as well.

"He loved and esteemed our Order"

I met the Archbishop of Buenos Aires, Jorge Mario Bergoglio, in 1999. He left a very lasting impression on me. In that meeting with several Augustinian friars, we had the opportunity to greet him and talk with him about different topics of “concern”. I was impressed by his clarity of mind and the certainty that he always wanted to help us.

I had the occasion to greet him again at the opening Mass of the General Chapter of the Order in 2013, in our Church of St. Augustine in Rome. It was a gesture of warmth towards the Order that he would agree to preside at this opening Eucharist of our Chapter. At that same Chapter, the friars were kind enough to entrust to me the ministry of Prior General of the Order. And I take this opportunity to say that the person who has helped me most in this mission, in this role as a “father” and servant of the brothers, has been Pope Francis. I will never be sufficiently grateful for his support, his advice, his closeness, his paternity, his affection and sympathy.

I had the opportunity to meet him on numerous occasions and I always had the feeling of being with a “father”. I told him so on several occasions. Besides helping me with his great wisdom, he gave me the feeling of being loved. And he always gave me a great deal of confidence. Sometimes he asked me for assistance: to dialogue with a certain Nuncio, to participate in some important event presided by him, to give consent on issues related to the Order. 

In this regard, I remember a time when he wanted to appoint the current Bishop of the Prelature of Cafayate, Monsignor Dario Quintana, OAR. Until then, the Bishop of the Prelature had always been from the Order of St. Augustine. However, at an audience which took place at the end of the term of Fr. Pablo Hernando Moreno, OSA, circumstances required the Holy Father to make a proposal. He asked me if “we could appoint a member of the ‘competition’ (he was referring to an Augustinian Recollect brother), bishop of the prelature”. Naturally, I said that what was most important was that he be a “good bishop” and that it did not matter where he came from.... He asked me to write immediately to the Nuncio so that he could take the necessary steps for this appointment.

Pope Francis had a very good memory. Sometimes he surprised me with questions about issues in the Order that I did not think he could even know about, let alone remember in such detail. He was intelligent and his advice was enormously helpful. Always wise, always a “father”, always close to the Order, always willing to serve.

He was of remarkable austerity and incredible generosity. He never took vacations. He got up very early and tried to receive all those who asked to see him. He never thought of himself, but only of others.

He loved and esteemed our Order of St. Augustine. He had had an Augustinian friar (Fr. Isidoro Perez Barrios, now deceased) serving at his side for many years (16 years). He appreciated and loved him. In fact, when Fr. Isidoro became ill with cancer which eventually took him, the now Holy Father called him during his illness on several occasions to encourage him.

During his time of leadership, he found it opportune to rely on the Order for the appointment of Bishops and, in fact, he chose a significant number of friars (15, in fact) for this important ministry in the Church.

Some of these friars received important tasks and “missions”. I mention in particular my predecessor as General of the Order, Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost. Pope Francis first appointed him Bishop of Chiclayo (Peru) and then later entrusted him with the mission of Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops, and created him a Cardinal. A very great responsibility. And yet, there are several other confreres who have been entrusted with the mission to carry out important responsibilities.

I am profoundly grateful for the warmth, trust, fraternal spirit and fatherly care of our dear recently deceased Pope Francis towards me and towards our Order.

I ask all the members of the Order to pray for him, for his eternal rest, so that he may enjoy eternal happiness together with the Risen Jesus and so many brothers.

Rest in peace, dear Holy Father. 

Fr. Alejandro Moral Antón - Prior General of the Order of Saint Augustine