‘Calm and Steady’: speakers reveal human side of Pope Leo

By Priscilla Greear - Florida Catholic

MIAMI | From a Vatican correspondent to an Augustinian partner in missions and a former professor, panelists at Carrollton School of the Sacred Heart in Miami recounted Pope Leo’s spiritual qualifications for the Chair of Peter: a humble shepherd, a Latin American missionary leader and pontifex Pontificum — a bridge builder.

The speakers brought firsthand knowledge of the Holy Father, whose Augustinian roots and American nationality have drawn global attention since his election in April 2025. They shared stories from Chicago to Chiclayo of Robert Prevost on his rise to the papacy and testify his election by the Sacred College of Cardinals, guided by the Holy Spirit — and influenced by Pope Francis and Prevost’s Augustinian spirituality.

“We’re hoping the discussion will reveal to all of us who Pope Leo XIV is and how he might lead the Church as we walk into the future together, and to be reminded of his role as a world leader and, most importantly, as someone who is deeply in love with Christ and who seeks to help all of us come to know the reality of God’s love,” said event moderator Sister Suzanne Cooke, provincial of the Society of the Sacred Heart (RSCJ) for the U.S.-Canada Province and former Carrollton head.

“Who is Pope Leo? A conversation with those who knew him,” was the title of the inaugural lecture in a series organized by the Carrollton’s Sacred Heart Spirituality Center, in partnership with the Society of the Sacred Heart, Feb. 11, 2026.

Heather Gillingham, director of the School and Patrick Coyle, President, introduced the speakers: Sacred Heart Sister Carolyn Osiek, who taught for 26 years at Catholic Theological Union and was one of Prevost’s professors; Colleen Dulle, Vatican correspondent for “America” magazine; and Father Arthur Purcano, a former member of the General Council of the Order of Saint Augustine who worked alongside Pope Leo.

Stories from Chicago to Peru reveal Pope Leo’s pastoral leadership

Father Purcano traveled to Rome to celebrate his 50th anniversary of priesthood in April 2025, which coincided with the death of Pope Francis. Cardinal Prevost met him at a restaurant one evening after a memorial Mass despite the intense Vatican agenda.

“Here comes the man in black with a red umbrella who said, ‘I’m here for dessert.’ He cares about people. He’s a real human being. He listens and he knows what you need,” Father Purcano said. “There was Bob Prevost, Cardinal Prevost, holding his umbrella over my brother’s head to drop him off where my brother was staying.”

Correspondent Dulle recounted how two conclave front-runners, Secretary of State Pietro Parolin and Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, lacked enough votes. The question became, “Who could get votes from a variety of different camps?”

As a Peruvian citizen and former Augustinian prior general, Cardinal Prevost was “the least American of the Americans,” having been appointed prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops in 2023.

“By the second vote it was clear that Prevost was going to be in first place,” said Dulle. “He handled it with a lot of grace and calm. Was he personally surprised? Maybe at first, but I think he realized pretty quickly.”

After the election, Sister Osiek dug up an old email address for Prevost on her phone and thought she had “nothing to lose” by emailing him. A thank-you email arrived the next morning.

“He said that someday the Holy Spirit will be able to explain why the election went as it did. It wasn’t my idea. At the beginning of the conclave I was soundly convinced they would never elect an American. Oh well,” said Sister Osiek.

Father Purcano recalled Pope Leo’s first visit to Peru one Thanksgiving, trekking on horseback to a remote region to build a formation program. Soon the Chicago native requested to return, spending more than 20 years as a missionary.

“Thirty-five years later we celebrated the house that Bob built, recalling what he did to build the Church there,” said Father Purcano.

Father Purcano later joined Prevost in Chiclayo when he served as bishop and recalled his emphasis on questioning, listening and building community.

“You do it by fostering unity, and it can’t happen except in diversity,” said the priest and added, “it’s all of us allowing the Spirit of Christ to guide our ministry.”

Father Purcano believes Pope Francis was preparing Cardinal Prevost for the papacy, wondering how he manages the crowds with his reserved personality.

“It’s the Holy Spirit because it’s not him,” he said. “His style of ministry, which he learned in Peru from the provincial, is one of a church of communion. We all have something to offer,” the priest added.

The pope endured terrorism and a migrant surge.

“Pope Leo chose to go and work and stay in Peru despite the difficulty. Here is somebody who has unbelievable human experience that you can rely on,” said Father Purcano. “He lived with Venezuelans entering his diocese looking for jobs and doing what he could. Those soup kitchens he set up while working in formation are still going.”

Audience reflects on Pope Leo’s message of unity and human dignity

Father Purcano described Pope Leo's Augustinian vision of a City of God without poverty and remembered their master’s program in Peru on the principles of human dignity, the common good, subsidiarity and solidarity.

“Those four principles are in his heart and wisdom, and he wants them for the world,” said the priest.

Dulle discussed his namesake, Pope Leo XIII, known for Catholic social teachings and workers’ rights.

“He recognized the parallels between the Industrial Revolution and the AI revolution today and the threats that pose to workers,” said Dulle.

She noted the pope writes “P.P.” after Leo, an old title meaning pontifex Pontificum, or bridge builder.

“He’s very aware that we’re a deeply divided world and a deeply divided Church, and I think his dedication to peace was the first thing he said on the balcony: ‘Peace be with you,’” said Dulle.

The American Pope has already inspired united advocacy for migrants by U.S. bishops. Sister Osiek believes “he can communicate directly with the U.S. bishops in a way others could not.”

She recalled her second year of teaching when she gave an insufficient explanation of Mary in Revelation, where Robert Prevost was the student who quietly raised his hand to question it.

“Calm and steady: That is the way I experienced him years ago, and it seems that that is still true,” she recalled.

Sister Cooke called the audience to go forth with courage, confidence and trust in the Holy Spirit.

“The spark of the divine rests in each of us and in creation, and so we can count on the Church led by Pope Leo to be attentive to the human dignity of all. And he will be calling all of us, the faithful, forward to work for the transformation of our world,” said Sister Cooke.