“Leo XIV is taking his time”; “Will he be able to act decisively?” “Will he be able to take a stand?” ... These murmurs are heard in the Vatican -- and beyond -- whenever a new Successor of Peter takes on the role. Between the lines, some criticize the pope for “procrastinating” on decisions, or for trying to please everyone on sensitive issues, which ultimately ends up dissatisfying everyone equally.
However, Robert Prevost knows how to make decisions. His biography, written by American journalist Elise Ann Allen and now in English, recounts an anecdote that took place when he was Prior General of the Augustinians, at the head of a congregation of some 3,000 members in around 50 countries. When faced with a few problematic cases involving money and morals in Mexico, the black-robed religious didn’t hesitate to choose a method that was, to say the least, persuasive.
A firm hand
According to this account, one day when the Augustinians of that province complained about his reproaches, “Padre Roberto” pointed to a briefcase and said, “Wait a moment. In this briefcase I have the bank statements of several of you. So either we start doing things properly, or I start reading them one by one. It's up to you to decide.”
At that moment, “everyone fell silent and [Robert Prevost] began to make things clear,” says an eyewitness who wishes to remain anonymous. He adds, “I said to myself: This guy doesn't have a shaky hand.”
Although difficult to verify, these strong words are nonetheless credible. According to his former colleagues in the Order of St. Augustine, the prior indeed showed a certain firmness during his 12-year tenure. Father Elías Neira, rector of Saint Augustine College in Chiclayo, Peru, also affirms that Father Prevost was able to make “difficult but firm decisions.”
“He intervened forcefully,” dismissing the leaders of the religious province of Mexico, he recalls.
Listening but also taking action
Father Alejandro Moral Anton, who was his vicar general before succeeding him as prior, echoes this sentiment. In an interview the day after the election, his colleague and friend said that the new pope “will gather information, consult, seek advice, but in the end he will also know how to make decisions.”
The fact that Leo XVI has an independent and decisive mind is further evidenced by actions he has already taken. For instance, the pontiff recently abolished a committee established two years earlier by Pope Francis. Marked by his training as a canonist, Pope Leo XIV isn’t afraid to radically readjust parameters.
