Inside Pope Leo XIV’s Doctoral Thesis: Reflections on Leadership and Authority

Nearly four decades ago, an American graduate student studying in Rome delved deeply into the nature of wise and effective leadership within the Catholic Church.

The dissertation authored by Robert Prevost in the mid-1980s now provides one of the most comprehensive windows into the formative intellectual views of the man who recently assumed the papacy as Pope Leo XIV. This publication stands out, especially since Prevost produced few public writings or speeches in the years that followed.

Titled "The Office and Authority of the Local Prior in the Order of Saint Augustine," the 167-page thesis is written in English and takes a detailed, often technical, look at the concept of authority within the religious order he joined as a young man. It explores how local leaders within the order should operate and broadly reflects on the meaning and purpose of leadership.

In one notable passage, the future pope wrote, "There is no place in Augustine’s idea of authority for those who seek power for personal gain." He emphasized that exercising authority in a Christian community demands setting aside self-interest and committing fully to the welfare of the community.

This guiding principle has persisted throughout his life and may offer clues to his approach as pope. During his inaugural Mass homily at St. Peter’s Square, Pope Leo echoed a concept and a Bible verse from his dissertation: "Peter must shepherd the flock without succumbing to the temptation of autocratic rule over those entrusted to him," he stated.

His thesis also highlighted that "the virtue of humility is essential for any superior," citing the New Testament book of 1 Peter: "Be examples to the flock, not domineering over those assigned to you."

In a section addressing "safeguarding the life of the community," Prevost examines how a local leader should manage serious disciplinary matters, including cases involving sexual misconduct within the order.

Unlike some recent popes who brought extensive published works and scholarly reputations upon their election, Pope Leo’s career was primarily dedicated to service within the Order of the Augustinians, a relatively small religious order founded in the 13th century. After completing degrees at Villanova University and the Catholic Theological Union in the United States, he earned two further degrees in Rome, including this doctorate published in 1987. Until now, his thesis remained largely unnoticed on university library shelves, an unassuming record of rigorous academic study by a future pope.

Prevost’s dissertation addresses practical questions stemming from a significant revision of canon law issued in 1983, which followed decades of development after the Second Vatican Council reshaped the Church’s engagement with the modern world. Much of the thesis focuses on administrative details such as term limits for priors, retreat structures, and workshop announcements.

However, the work also offers insights into how he might guide the global Church during this new chapter in its history. Several passages highlight his early reflections on leadership, authority, and the challenges facing the Church.

In the introduction, Prevost refers to the "painful struggle" since the 1960s that brought significant upheaval within the Church and society. Citing the late Pope Paul VI, he underscores the importance of balancing love and freedom with obedience and order. He also notes the rise of a new "age of personalism" influencing life within religious communities.

A central concern of Prevost’s thesis is the potential for authority to be abused. Drawing extensively on St. Augustine, he stresses the dangers of unchecked power and the need for leaders and institutions to impose limits on domination. This theme resonates with concerns voiced by recent pontiffs regarding abuses of power, particularly in the treatment of women.

Prevost consistently portrays authority as a form of service rather than control. Echoing Augustine, he argues that leadership within the religious life is not an end in itself. Instead, a leader's role is to foster harmony in the community by guiding members through challenges, engaging in respectful dialogue, and valuing the talents and insights of all. Genuine authority, he writes, depends on trust and humility.

An important Augustinian principle highlighted in the thesis is the act of listening—to God and to one another—which serves to unify the community. The prior, as community leader, plays a vital role in this "theology of listening." This principle was evident when Pope Leo addressed the world from St. Peter’s balcony, calling for a "synodal church," a model emphasizing dialogue and collaboration between Church leaders and the laity, a process initiated by his predecessor and expected to continue.

Another recurring theme in the dissertation is the significance of personal relationships in resolving the inevitable conflicts of communal life, including tensions between authority figures and those they lead. Prevost emphasizes that a collegial and approachable leadership style can better address community struggles, though he also acknowledges the necessity of an individual ultimately responsible for decision-making and guiding religious life.

The dissertation briefly outlines how a prior should address various serious disciplinary issues within the order, including sexual offenses.

Referring to canon law and the Augustinian rule, Prevost lists offenses warranting dismissal from the order, including a total loss of religious spirit, homicide, kidnapping, procuring an abortion, or "an offense against the sixth commandment committed with force, threats, publicly, or involving a minor under sixteen." In Catholic teaching, the sixth commandment prohibits adultery.

He stresses that charity and sensitivity must guide the enforcement of penalties. "In the most urgent cases, if no other remedy is available, the local Prior may, with the consent of his Council, expel a Brother from the community," Prevost writes. "The aim of correction is to seek the Brother’s conversion and protect the community’s well-being."

Toward the conclusion, Prevost makes clear that the prior’s role extends beyond regulations and administration, intertwining with spirituality. From an early age, he demonstrated administrative aptitude—from managing his high school yearbook’s finances to earning a reputation as an effective leader within the curia. Vatican observers are already speculating how these skills might enable Pope Leo to pursue reform within the Church bureaucracy.