Pope Leo XIV goes through his day centered on prayer, silence and seeking God amid his responsibilities at the helm of the Church, said his personal secretary, Peruvian priest Father Edgard Rimaycuna, in a recent interview released by the Order of St. Augustine.
Father Rimaycuna offered details regarding the daily spiritual life of the pope, whom he described as a man who “lives always in the constant presence of God.”
“From the very start of the day, he has his fixed times for prayer, including holy Mass and the recitation of the Liturgy of the Hours; we also pray the rosary,” the priest said.
The pope’s personal secretary added that Pope Leo “always seeks contact with God through silence and through prayer before the Blessed Sacrament in the chapel” throughout the day.
According to Father Rimaycuna, the pope’s spirituality is deeply influenced by the thought of St. Augustine. “St. Augustine used to say: God is so intimately within man that man himself is within himself,” he said.
“The Holy Father seeks God within himself; he speaks with him, that is prayer,” he added.
The Peruvian priest said the pope’s spiritual experience is subsequently reflected in his interactions with “the people with whom he works.”
This closeness is manifested in “the time he gives to every person who seeks him out” and in the attention he pays to those who confide their difficulties or concerns to him,” he said.
“When someone entrusts him with a specific intention or concern, he keeps them very much in mind,” he added.
Father Rimaycuna also described Pope Leo as a patient and prudent man in the governance of the church. “He is not a man of immediate decisions. He always thinks, listens and considers even opposing views,” he stated.
The secretary emphasized that the pope seeks to avoid confrontation and promote unity.
“He is a man who seeks to build bridges, seeks dialogue and always avoids confrontation,” he added.
The papal secretary also noted that one of the pope’s greatest sources of suffering is the current wars. “He suffers a lot because of all of this,” he said, referring to the conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, noting that Pope Leo’s first words after being elected pope were a call for peace: “Peace be with all of you.”
“He always works for peace; he constantly calls upon authorities for a ceasefire,” he said.
Father Rimaycuna asked the faithful to pray constantly for the pope, given the spiritual weight he bears in leading the universal church.
“We can never offer too many prayers,” he said. “The Holy Father will always need our prayers.”
This story was first published by ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.
