NORTH ANDOVER, MASS. (WHDH) – Before he was Pope Leo XIV, Robert Prevost held the title “Prior General of the Augustinian Religious Order.”
The Chicago-born missionary has a local tie to North Andover, having received an honorary degree from Merrimack College in 2005, a private Augustinian university.
Pope Leo XIV went to Merrimack College for graduation where he was awarded a doctorate in Augustinian education. The pope attended mass and also spoke to the graduates.
He may be a citizen of the globe, but the new pope is American.
As it turns out, Friar Raymond Dlugos, VP of Mission and Ministry at Merrimack College, attended Villanova University with Pope Leo XIV in the mid 70s.
Dlugos says him and the new pope took several classes together, and described Pope Leo XIV as a trusted leader.
“He’s wicked smart,” said Dlugos. “He’s quiet, subdued, but you know he knows what he’s doing. He inspires a lot of confidence. He’s a gentle leader. He doesn’t raise his voice very much. I’ve never heard him raise his voice. He can get his point across and lead people through difficult situations.”
Dlugos says they both believe in bringing people together and creating community. He says that’s what will make this new pope, a great one.
“You can sing a lot of different notes and bring all together a beautiful melody and that’s what Bob has been doing – I’m sorry I just called him Bob – that’s what the Pope Leo has been doing for the last 50 years of his life, and that will be second nature to how he serves us as pope,” said Dlugos.
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