When the white smoke went up from the Vatican’s chimney signalling the election of a new Pope, Sister Catherine McCahill SGS was just a few kilometres away in Rome, reflecting after Communion at a Mass with more than 900 leaders of women’s religious congregations from around the world.
By Debra Vermeer
Catherine, who as Congregational Leader of the Sisters of the Good Samaritan, was attending the meeting of the International Union of Superiors General (UISG), had just taken part in the closing liturgy of “a very moving and hope-filled Assembly”.
“As I sat quietly after Communion, eyes closed and listening to the vibrant Spanish choir, I heard a quiet voice (say) ‘white smoke’,” Catherine said.
Looking up, she noticed the screen had changed to a live feed from St Peter’s Square in front of the Sistine Chapel.
“As one, we got to our feet. We sang ‘Alleluia’, we clapped, we cried, we laughed. It was a beautiful, moving euphoric mayhem,” she said.
Image: International Union of Superiors General (USIG).
“As the feed moved back every few seconds to the smoke, a loud cheer went up. A thousand women can make a lot of noise! We have a new Pope.
“The delight was palpable. I will not forget this moment with the leaders of religious congregations from almost every country of this earth. Alleluia was our language, no need now for headsets and translators!”
While some of the Sisters headed out the door to try to make it to the Square in time to greet the new Pope, Catherine stayed with most of the Leaders, gathered together, and watching the live coverage as Cardinal Robert Prevost OSA was introduced to the cheering crowds as Pope Leo XIV.
His first words to the world were a greeting of peace and a reminder of the love God has for each person, followed by a vision of hope for the Church going forward.
“Together, we must look for ways to be a missionary Church, a Church that builds bridges and encourages dialogue, a Church ever open to welcoming, like this Square with its open arms, all those who are in need of our charity, our presence, our readiness to dialogue and our love,” he said
An Augustinian, and an American who had spent many years as a missionary in Peru, Cardinal Prevost’s election as Pope came as a surprise to many.
None were more joyfully surprised than Rachael Kama, a participant in this year’s Good Samaritan Study, Accompaniment and Mentoring (SAM) Program. At home in Australia, Rachael woke up to the news that the man she’d known for some years as Father Bob, or simply Bob, was now the Pope.
Rachael belongs to a parish in St Clair in the Diocese of Parramatta, which has been in the pastoral care of the Order of St Augustine for more than 30 years, a community which she said has not only nurtured her faith but shaped her identity as a Lay Augustinian.
“The election of Pope Leo XIV – known to many of us as Father Bob – has been a moment of deep joy and reflection,” she said. “As the first Pope from the Augustinian Order, his papacy brings the spirit of our OSA community to the heart of the universal Church.”
Father Bob Prevost celebrated Mass on Collaroy Beach, Sydney, Australia, when he was Prior General of the Augustinians. Image: Facebook.
Rachael first met ‘Father Bob’ at the Augustinian Youth Encounter (AYE) held in Sydney in 2008, where the theme was ‘sharing all things in common’.
“At the time, he was Prior General. As Music Coordinator, I had the honour of leading liturgies while he and his brothers walked with us,” she said.
“Their message was simple: nothing we have is truly ours, but God’s. We are called to share what we have, embrace difference, and build community through love and understanding.”
Rachael said another Augustinian value which she feels sure Pope Leo will bring to the fore in his papacy is that of friendship.
“In Augustinian spirituality, friendship is more than connection – it is a path to God. As Jesus says in John’s Gospel, ‘I call you friends …’, being in healthy community with others is central in building a personal relationship with God,” she said.
Pope Leo’s reference to synodality in his first remarks as Pope, also came as no surprise to Rachael.
“The Augustinians minister synodally, always placing people and relationships at the heart of their mission,” she said.
Rachael met Father Bob again at AYE 2010 in England, where over a quiet coffee, he helped her discern a difficult crossroads in her life.
“His encouragement led me to embrace my calling to mission, which guided me through a decade of ministry in the Diocese of Lismore,” she said.
They crossed paths briefly at World Youth Day 2011 in Madrid and then again last year when Rachael attended the Fifth OSA Lay Congress in Rome. It was here that Father Bob – then Cardinal Robert Prevost – presided over the final Mass where Rachael sang and led the music.
“Afterwards, I asked if he remembered me. He smiled and said, ‘I didn’t remember you until I heard your voice’. That moment will stay with me forever,” she said.
Today, Rachael serves in the Diocese of Parramatta as a Mission Enhancement Team Facilitator, supporting families and vulnerable communities. She has also taken on the role of Asia Pacific Lay Representative with the Augustinians.
“Now, as Pope Leo XIV begins his papacy, it’s not just a milestone for the Augustinians, it’s a humble, powerful affirmation of the path we’ve walked together which echoes far beyond what we could ever imagine,” she said.
Catherine said the priorities outlined by Pope Leo in his early days as pontiff have been filled with Gospel hope and, as such, also align with Good Samaritan-Benedictine values, including being neighbour and acting with compassion.
“The thing that springs to mind about him first is that he is clearly a humble person, and in his own way, a people person,” she said.
“I think his first days as Pope have shown us that he sees himself as taking a leadership role for peace for the sake of the people. He has displayed a real compassion for the suffering of others, wherever that is.
“That was obvious right from his first Sunday Angelus address where he called for peace for the people of Gaza and Ukraine, and also in his address to the leaders of the Eastern Churches, whose members have suffered much in these conflicts.
“His words will bring hope to these communities. And what the world needs now is leaders who speak of hope. Francis knew how to do that, and I’m sure Pope Leo will also be a leader of hope and of peace.”
