Pope Leo XIV, the new leader of the Roman Catholic Church, has visited the Philippines, including Cebu. 

In a post on its Facebook page, the Order of Saint Augustine - Province of Santo Niño de Cebu, Philippines shared images of then Robert Cardinal Prevost, OSA with Augustinian friars. 

Its post reads:

“With great joy, the Augustinian Province of Santo Niño de Cebu–Philippines joins the Catholic Church in praying for Robert Cardinal Prevost, OSA—now Pope Leo XIV—as he begins his ministry as the 267th Supreme Pontiff.”

The order mentioned that prior to his stint in the Vatican as a member of different Congregations, and even before becoming a Cardinal, then Bishop Prevost, visited the Island of Cebu when he was still the Prior General of the Augustinians and blessed the Augustinian Friary of Mohon, Talisay City.

The order also shared a prayer for the new Pope: 

“May the Lord preserve him, give him life, make him happy in the land, and not give him up to the will of his foes,” the prayer went.

“O God, who in your providential design willed that your Church be built upon blessed Peter, whom you set over the other Apostles, look with favor, we pray, on Leo our Pope and grant that he, whom you have made Peter’s successor, may be for your people a visible source and foundation of unity in faith and of communion,” the prayer added. 

Meanwhile, Mayor Gerald Anthony Gullas of Talisay City, Cebu mentioned of the visit of then Rev. Fr. Prevost in the city.

"Dako gyud nga garbo sa mga Talisaynon nga ang atong bag-ong Santo Papa nakabisita na sa atong dakbayan niadtong tuig 2004. Pope Leo XIV visited the Santo Niño de Cebu Parish in Barangay Mohon when he was still the Prior General of the Augustinian Order, to bless their friary," the mayor said in a post on his official social media account, Samsam Gullas.

"I pray that Pope Leo XIV will be able to continue the work of his predecessor, the late Pope Francis, in leading the Church into the future. Let us also pray for the new Pope, that he will have the strength and wisdom to fulfill his mission. Usa kini ka dakong panalangin alang sa tibuok Katolikong kalibutan ug alang usab sa atong dakbayan. Dili nato kalimtan nga ang Santo Papa usa ka simbolo sa paghiusa, paglaum, ug pagtuo," the mayor added.

(Info & image courtesy of the Order of Saint Augustine - Province of Santo Niño de Cebu, Philippines; Mayor Samsam Gullas/FB)