In the Basilica dedicated to St. Augustine of Hippo in Annaba, Pope Leo XIV delivered a homily that brought his Augustinian heritage into focus. Preaching in the very land where Augustine served as bishop, the Pope drew on the Gospel of John to speak about one of Christianity’s most demanding and hopeful themes: the call to be “born from above.”
Not a command, but a gift
“You must be born from above” (John 3:7) can sound like an impossible demand. Pope Leo reframed it as a promise. God does not command what cannot be fulfilled; rather, he gives what he commands. Here the Pope turned explicitly to Augustine, echoing a famous line from the Confessions: “Give what you command, and command what you will.”
This Augustinian insight runs through the entire homily. Grace is a real power at work in human weakness. Even amid suffering, sin, or discouragement, the possibility of beginning again remains open. The resurrection of Christ is the source of a new life available now.
For Pope Leo, this “new birth” shapes an entire way of life. Turning to the Acts of the Apostles, he described the early Christian community as “one heart and soul,” united by shared faith and love.
This unity, he insisted, has visible consequences. Goods are shared, no one is abandoned, and charity becomes the guiding principle. Such a vision may seem unrealistic, but the Pope rejected that skepticism. Division and greed make it appear unattainable; faith makes it possible.
The logic is deeply Augustinian. In On the Happy Life, Augustine argues that happiness is found in communion with God — and therefore with others. A divided heart cannot be happy; a heart reordered toward God becomes capable of genuine love.
A small Church with a clear witness
Addressing the Christians of Algeria directly, Pope Leo offered an image as simple as striking: their presence is like incense — small, often unnoticed, yet filling the air with fragrance.
In a country where Christians are few, their mission is to witness: through relationships, daily dialogue, and quiet fidelity. This, too, is Augustine’s legacy, rooted in pastoral care, intellectual rigor, and a relentless search for truth.
An Augustinian thread
Pope Leo has consistently returned to Augustine in his public remarks. This homily confirms that the connection is a lens through which he understands the Church’s mission today.
In his farewell, the Pope offered a succinct summary: the world’s troubles stem from pride, and healing begins in humility before God. Only there, he said, can humanity rediscover peace and fraternity. Through Pope Leo, Augustine’s voice continues to speak, as a guide for the present.
