Pope Leo XIV, then Father Robert Francis Prestost, stands at the Shanbagam Matriculation Higher Secondary School in Pollach, Tamil Nadu, during his visit in October 2006 | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
More than 18 years ago, Father Robert Francis – the now elected Pope, under the papal name Leo XIV – stood quietly in front of the school gate in Pollach, a small town in Tamil Nadu. In October 2006 he served as the previous general of the Order of St. Augustine, when he visited the High School of Shenbagam in October 2006.
According to regional vicar Augustinians in India, Father Prevost served as the previous General of the Order from 2001 to 2013. During this period, he performed two visits to India – 2004 and 2006 – he met the Augustine communities in Kerala and Tamil Nadu. On April 22, 2004, the consecration mass of six Augustinian deacons in the Church of Sts. František Xavier in Kathrikadav near Kaluor in Kerala.
His second visit in October 2006 brought him back to Kerala to participate in the Asian-Tichoral meeting of the St. Augustine, held in Aluva.
During this journey, he performed a two -day visit to Shenbagam School in Pollach, which then just got under the leadership of Augustinian fathers under the diocese of Coimbatore. The school, originally founded in 1995 by a local entrepreneur, had less than 500 students.
Father Sumesh Joseph IllikkaParamtil, correspondent shenbagam matric. Hr. Sec. School shares an old photo on Friday #PopeleoxiveReceived during his visit to the school in #Pollachi from #Coimbatore Dist. in #Tamilnad In 2006.
📹: M. Periasamy (@peri_periasamy) pic.twitter.com/we1gsiraor
– Hind – Chennai (@thchennai) 9 May 2025
At school, Father previs interact with Augustinian fathers and employees and posed for a photograph that is now renewed for the school community. His visit, modest at that time, became a moment of silent pride for those who remember it.
Father Sumesh Joseph IllikkaParamtil holds a photograph taken during a visit to Father Prestost in 2006 | Photo Credit: M. Periasamy
The current correspondent of the school, Father Sumesh Joseph Illikparamtil, showed one of the photographs taken that day. In 2006 he was a 26 -year -old brother who underwent a formation to become a priest in Kerala. “We remember his visit live.
“We never imagined that the Church would lead. I didn’t even imagine that one day I would serve as a correspondent in the school he visited.”Father Sumesh Joseph IllikkaParambil
“It is someone who likes to mix with people and participates in field activities. The school has changed completely from our visit-we have almost 1,400 students and more than 100 teachers and non-taught employees,” added Father Sumesh.
“He can remember his visit to India, especially Tamil Nadu whenever he asked him about his time in the region. We even plan to create a small memorial that will have his visit,” he said.
When Pope Leo XIV begins his spiritual leadership from Rome, the Pollach school remembers a quiet afternoon that a visiting priest stood at their gate before giving him a new name.
Published – May 9, 2025 05:42
