His Royal Highness Prince Charles of Bourbon Two Sicilies, Duke of Castro, Head of the Royal House and Grand Master of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of Saint George, wishes to express his most sincere congratulations, accompanied by his deep filial joy and renewed hope, to Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost for his election to the Apostolic See, under the name of Pope Leo XIV, the 267th successor of Peter, Bishop of Rome, and Sovereign of Vatican City.
The Constantinian Order, faithful to its religious vocation and charitable and hospital mission, now assures the Holy Father of its constant support in defending human dignity, serving the poor, and promoting peace.
The Holy Pontiff, already Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops, an expert in social and cultural issues, has gained profound knowledge of the Church in Latin America as the Archbishop-Emeritus of Chiclayo in Peru, and he belongs to the Order of Augustinians. In his first speech from the balcony of Saint Peter, during his greeting to the faithful, he called for “disarmed and disarming peace,” speaking of “a missionary Church that builds bridges, welcomes everyone with open arms, and seeks to be close to the most needy and those who suffer.”
The order, which refers to Saint Augustine, was officially founded in the thirteenth century and, after a long history, faced the risk of suppression in the 19th century. It was then that Pope Leo XIII saved it, and perhaps this historical moment also influenced the choice of the new pontiff’s name.
The first communities in Lima, Peru, were founded in 1551, a land where Pope Leo XIV carried out his mission for a long time.
Devotion to Mary, dedication to studies, and their dissemination are among the characteristics of the Augustinians. The deepening of philosophy and theology constitutes their cultural “heritage,” alongside missionary and educational activities.
