CLEVELAND — The Rule of Saint Augustine is a guide for Nancy Hendershot, and thousands of of other Catholics worldwide, including the newly elected pontiff, Pope Leo XIV, who is part of the Augustinian order.
“‘I desire to love you and my neighbor as myself,’” Hendershot said. “That's a key saying from Saint Augustine, and the Augustinians try to live it. I hope we all try to live it. But to me, that says that's going to be the way he is”
Hendershot is a member of the Sister of Charity of Saint Augustine, which was founded by the first Catholic Bishop of Cleveland. The foundation works to support those most in need while addressing poverty and health disparities across Cuyahoga County. Even though the sisters are not part of the Order of Saint Augustine, Hendershot said, the community revolves around three Augstinian concepts.
“So, love, listen and…respect for others, even when we differ,” she said.
Now, with the first Augstinian pope leading the church, Hendershot said, she hopes to see Leo carry out Saint Augustine’s principles into his papacy.
“First of all, he called us to be peaceful … He also talked about a technique that's being used in the Catholic Church, and that is a technique of how we can learn to listen to one another and listen to differing viewpoints, to come to some conclusions,” she said.
It’s the second time in a row the Catholic Church has selected a pope from a religious order.
“Pope Francis was a Jesuit, which is another order of religious men. It's been a while since the Catholic Church has had a pope from a religious order. Usually the popes are chosen from what's called, like, a Diocesan priesthood,” said Andrew Staron, who is an assistant professor at Saint Mary’s Seminary.
Staron, who teaches at the university’s Graduate School of Theology, said he anticipates Leo will continue Francis’ legacy and advocacy in the community as the church continues to overcome deep divisions.
“We really have to recognize that he's going to be trying to bring unity to the church, and a unity that is deeply concerned with questions of justice. So in those ways, I think we're going to see a continuation of Francis's papacy,” he said.
While the pope's new path for the church remains uncertain, Hendershot said the Augustinian community will be around to pass along the order’s message.
“We are blessed with a diversity of gifts, each of us,” Hendershot said. “And we need each of us to help each other, to live a full life, with full opportunities."
CORRECTION: A previous version of this story misspelled Nancy Hendershot's name. This has been corrected. (May 10, 2025)
