When Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost emerged on the loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica on May 8, 2025, and announced his papal name — Leo XIV — the choice may have sounded quaint, even arcane, to many listeners outside the Catholic world. But names in the Vatican are never incidental. In choosing “Leo,” the new pope reached deep into the Church’s layered memory and projected a clear diplomatic signal: this pontificate will be one of dialogue, strategy, and, above all, a worldly and spiritual engagement with crisis. And diplomacy is at the core of it all.
Pope Leo I, who reigned from 440 to 461, is remembered not just for his theological contributions but for a singular moment of early Christian diplomacy. In 452, he rode north to meet Attila the Hun near the River Mincio, persuading the feared warlord to spare the city of Rome. It was a feat of rhetoric, courage, and what we might today call soft power. Just three years later, he confronted another existential threat — the Vandals, under Genseric — and while unable to prevent the sack of Rome, he negotiated to mitigate the destruction and bloodshed. Leo I understood something many world leaders still struggle with: diplomacy is not always the art of victory, but of preservation.
Over a millennium later, Pope Leo XIII (1878–1903) gave the name new resonance. He was the pope of Rerum Novarum, the great encyclical that laid the foundations of modern Catholic social teaching. But just as importantly, Leo XIII sought to re-establish the Vatican as a credible actor on the global stage, rebalancing its role after the trauma of losing the Papal States. Through quiet negotiations and public declarations, he carved out a space for moral diplomacy, giving the Holy See a new kind of relevance in the industrializing, ideologically fracturing world of the late 19th century.
To name oneself Leo, in the 21st century, is to invoke both these legacies — the lion confronting chaos, and the lion reconciling the Church with the modern world. Pope Leo XIV, formerly Cardinal Prevost of Chicago and Chiclayo, seems well-suited to both tasks.
Prevost is not the archetypal American cardinal. His decades in Peru, fluent Spanish, and Peruvian citizenship make him arguably more Latin American than North American in pastoral style. Yet this dual identity — both global and rooted — may prove to be his greatest diplomatic asset. He is, in effect, a bridge pope: not merely between hemispheres, but between factions, traditions, and expectations within an increasingly polarized Church.
His background as an Augustinian adds another layer of intrigue to the diplomatic story. St. Augustine of Hippo, the order’s namesake, was no diplomat in the conventional sense — he did not meet barbarian kings on horseback or publish encyclicals — but he was a master of the internal diplomacy of the soul. In The City of God, Augustine negotiated the boundaries between the earthly and the divine, between Rome as a political entity and as a symbol of eternal truth. His notion that history unfolds as a contested dialogue between these two “cities” is not just theology — it is geopolitics of the most profound kind.
The Augustinian Order, founded in 1244, played a significant role in the diplomatic activities of the Catholic Church, especially through its members who held high ecclesiastical and diplomatic positions. Throughout history, Augustinians were not only devoted to religious life and scholarship but also acted as trusted envoys and negotiators for the papacy, often navigating the complex political landscapes of their time.
Augustinian diplomacy begins with an acceptance of imperfection and the irreducibility of conflict. It is a diplomacy that does not expect utopia, but seeks to temper disorder. Pope Leo XIV’s first words as pontiff — quoting Augustine’s famous line, “For you, I am a bishop; with you, I am a Christian” — struck precisely this balance between authority and solidarity. It is the tone of a leader who knows the Church must navigate, not dominate, the stormy waters of contemporary society.
Moreover, his choice of the name Leo can be read as an intentional continuation of the Franciscan reform project. Francis was the pope of encounter, of the peripheries, of shaking loose ossified traditions. Leo XIV, by contrast, may become the pope of consolidation, of rebuilding trust — not through thunderous proclamations, but through meticulous diplomacy, both within and beyond the Church.
We can expect his papacy to place renewed emphasis on episcopal appointments — his former role as prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops attests to his understanding of how global the Church truly is. But perhaps more importantly, we may witness an era of papal diplomacy that seeks to bridge divides not only across continents but also within communities, between ideologies, and between the secular and the sacred.
Diplomacy, like faith, is a long game. It is not about immediate wins, but enduring witness. With Leo XIV, the Vatican has signaled that the lion’s voice — not a roar, but a calm, reasoned, persuasive voice — will again shape the Church’s presence in the world. In a time when populists preach division and statesmen struggle to steer through multipolar chaos, the world may once again look to Rome — and to a son of Augustine — for something that looks very much like wisdom.
Notable Augustinian Diplomats
Cardinal Alessandro Oliva (1407–1463): A close friend of Pope Pius II, Cardinal Oliva was entrusted by the pope with several peace missions during a period of instability in Europe. His involvement in these delicate negotiations highlights the trust the papacy placed in Augustinian clerics for matters of international and ecclesiastical diplomacy.
Cardinal Egidio da Viterbo (1469–1532): A renowned humanist and diplomat, Egidio was known for his eloquent address at the Fifth Lateran Council, in which he called for reform within the Church. His role combined theological insight with diplomatic acumen, representing the Church’s moral and intellectual authority on the international stage.
Cardinal Girolamo Seripando (1492–1563): A prominent theologian and an influential participant at the Council of Trent, where he served as papal legate. His contributions to the theological debates of the Reformation era, along with his diplomatic responsibilities at the council, underscore the multifaceted role of Augustinians in church politics.
Cardinal Sebastiano Martinelli (1848–1918): Appointed Apostolic Delegate to the United States, Martinelli was instrumental in developing diplomatic relations between the Vatican and the U.S. during a time when the Catholic Church was expanding its influence in the Americas. His work helped foster mutual understanding between different political and religious cultures.
The Case of Nicolás de Melo
A unique chapter in Augustinian diplomatic history is the story of Nicolás de Melo, a Portuguese Augustinian who, at the end of the 16th century, became involved in a diplomatic mission initiated by Shah Abbas I of Persia. Originally a missionary in the Philippines, de Melo joined a Persian delegation led by the English adventurer Anthony Shirley, which aimed to forge alliances with European powers against the Ottoman Empire.
However, the journey was fraught with tension. A conflict arose between de Melo and Shirley, culminating in de Melo’s imprisonment in Russia. Despite these hardships, de Melo did not abandon his mission. Upon his release, he continued his religious duties and eventually became chaplain to the Polish noblewoman Marina Mniszech, who was connected to the court of Tsar Boris Godunov.
His story reflects the complexities and risks faced by ecclesiastical diplomats in the early modern period. It also illustrates the often-overlooked global reach of the Augustinian Order, whose members could be found in the courts of Asia, Eastern Europe, and beyond, navigating the volatile intersections of faith, politics, and empire.
The Augustinian Order played a crucial role in the diplomatic endeavors of the Catholic Church, not only through high-ranking ecclesiastical figures but also through missionaries who engaged in international relations and cross-cultural missions. Their contributions were vital in promoting Christianity and in maintaining diplomatic ties between the Vatican and various global powers. Whether negotiating peace, advocating for reform, or representing the Church in distant courts, Augustinian diplomats exemplified the blending of spiritual mission with political strategy.
A Pope of Diplomacy
Given the historical legacy of Augustinian involvement in Church diplomacy, the election of a new pope with ties to the Augustinian tradition suggests a renewed emphasis on diplomatic engagement. Drawing inspiration from past Augustinian figures who skillfully balanced theological conviction with political negotiation, the new pontiff is expected to prioritize dialogue, peace-building, and multilateral cooperation in addressing today’s global challenges.
His papacy may usher in a period where ecclesiastical diplomacy plays a central role in fostering interfaith understanding, resolving geopolitical tensions, and reinforcing the Church’s moral presence on the international stage.
