The former rector of Basilica Minore del Santo Niño and parish priest of Santo Niño Parish went emotional at the news of the election of then Robert Francis Cardinal Prevost into the papacy.

Cebuano singing priest, Rev. Fr. Jonas Mejares, narrated that he met personally Pope Leo XIV, then Cardinal Prevost, at the Vatican about a month before the election.

Mejares, currently the Prior and Vice President of the Augustinian Formation and Mission of the University of San Agustin in Iloilo City, described Pope Leo XIV to be a "simple man, a man of few words, but someone who is very approachable."

From Prior General of the Order of Saint Augustine (OSA) in 12 years, then Rev. Fr. Prevost rose from the ranks and was appointed by Pope Francis as Bishop in 2023 and Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops, as well as President of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America.

Also in 2023, Fr. Prevost was appointed Cardinal.

Mejares has high hopes that Pope Leo XIV will help greatly in the mission of the Roman Catholic Church toward unity and peace worldwide, most especially that the 267^th Supreme Pontiff is a polyglot, or one who is proficient in many languages.

While he was Prior General of OSA, the future Pope Leo XIV visited the Augustinian community at Santo Niño de Cebu Parish in Barangay Mohon, Talisay City, Cebu Province.

He blessed the friary, or the residence of the Augustinian religious in the area.

Meanwhile, 69-year-old Agnes Ramirez, caretaker of the Adoration Chapel at the Santo Niño de Cebu Parish, said she had goose bumps upon learning that then Fr. Prevost, an Augustinian priest she met in 2004, was chosen new Pope.

It was further learned that the Augustinian communities nationwide will be on board to decide on various programs set to honor their former Prior General, now Pope Leo XIV.