​Friar 
​Robert Francis Prevost Martinez, OSA:

From CTU
to the Papacy

Augustinian Friar, Robert Francis Prevost Martinez, was ordained a presbyter on June 19, 1982, after completing his Master's of Divinity at the Catholic Theological Union (CTU), where I also studied during his final year. Who could have imagined that the upperclassman I occasionally saw in the library would one day be pope? The Spirit of God works in ways beyond our understanding.
CTU has always prided itself on forming ministers to guide the Church in today's world. We now celebrate that we have given a pope to the universal Church—one who embraced the teachings of Vatican II and will lead us forward.
In recent days, several CTU professors, students, and formation directors have been interviewed by U.S. and International news agencies. ​[Click here to read and watch some of these interviews.]

Oremos - Let us pray for Pope Leo XIV -  Oremus

Franciscan Prayer for the Pope
You are the Holy One, Lord God Most High,
the one who works wonders.
You are the strong one, you are the great one,
you are the Most High and Glorious God.
By Your Spirit, You have given us a successor to Peter--
our brother, Pope Leo XIV.
Bless him, O Lord, and guard him tenderly
as he begins this sacred ministry.
Show Your face to him, and have mercy upon him
Lord turn Your gaze upon him and give him peace.
Steady his steps with swiftness and clarity,
that he may walk the pilgrim path with joy and resolve.
Let him guide Your Church securely and joyfully,
leading us along the way of prudent happiness.
May he offer his vow to You, Most High,
in the pursuit of that perfection
to which the Spirit of the Lord has called him.
As our pontiff may he embrace the poor and crucified Christ.
Let him gaze upon Jesus, our Brother and Lord--
to consider Him, to contemplate Him,
and to desire always to imitate Him.
We pray all this for Your greater glory,
for our sanctification,
for the good of all the Church
and for the healing of the whole earth.
Amen.

Oración franciscana por el Papa
Tú eres el Santo, Señor Dios Altísimo,
el que hace maravillas.
Tú eres el fuerte, tú eres el grande,
tú eres el Dios Altísimo y Glorioso.
Por Tu Espíritu, nos has dado un sucesor de Pedro,
nuestro hermano, el Papa Leo XIV.
Bendícelo, oh Señor, y guárdalo tiernamente
mientras comienza este sagrado ministerio.
Muéstrale tu rostro y ten misericordia de él
Señor, vuelve Tu mirada sobre él y dale la paz.
Dale firmeza a sus pasos con rapidez y claridad,
para que recorra su peregrinación con alegría y determinación.
Deja que guíe a Tu Iglesia con seguridad y alegría,
llevándonos por el camino de la prudente felicidad.
Que te ofrezca su voto, Altísimo,
en la búsqueda de esa perfección
a la que el Espíritu del Señor lo ha llamado.
Que como nuestro pontífice abrace a Cristo pobre y crucificado.
Que mire a Jesús, nuestro Hermano y Señor,
para considerarlo, para contemplarlo,
y desear siempre imitarlo.
Rogamos todo esto para Tu mayor gloria,
por nuestra santificación,
por el bien de toda la iglesia
y por la sanación de toda la tierra.
Amén.
 

Preghiera francescana per il Papa
Tu sei il Santo, Signore Dio Onnipotente,
Colui che opera meraviglie.
Tu sei il forte, tu sei il grande
tu sei l'Altissimo e il Glorioso Dio.
Per mezzo del tuo Spirito,
ci hai dato un successore di Pietro,
nostro fratello, Papa Leone XIV.
Benedicilo, o Signore, e custodiscilo teneramente
all'inizio di questo sacro ministero.
Mostragli il tuo volto e abbi pietà di lui
Signore, volgi su di lui il tuo sguardo e donagli pace.
Stabilizza i suoi passi in modo rapido e chiaro,
perché possa percorrere il suo pellegrinaggio
con gioia e determinazione.
Lascia che guidi la Tua Chiesa con sicurezza e gioia,
guidandoci lungo il sentiero della felicità prudente.
Ti offra il suo voto, Altissimo,
alla ricerca di quella perfezione
alla quale lo Spirito del Signore lo ha chiamato.
Come il nostro Pontefice, abbracci Cristo povero e crocifisso.
Guardi a Gesù, nostro Fratello e Signore,
a considerarlo, a contemplarlo,
volendo sempre imitarlo.
Preghiamo tutto questo per la Tua maggior gloria,
per la nostra santificazione,
per il bene della Chiesa
e per la guarigione di tutta la terra.
Amen.

Prière franciscaine pour le pape
Tu es le Saint, le Seigneur Dieu Très-Haut,
celui qui fait des merveilles.
Tu es le plus fort, tu es le plus grand,
tu es le Dieu le Très Haut et le Glorieux.
Par Ton Esprit, Tu nous as donné un successeur à Pierre...
notre frère, le pape Léon XIV.
Bénis-le, Seigneur, et protège-le tendrement
alors qu’il commence ce ministère sacré.
Montre-lui ta face, et aie pitié de lui
Seigneur tourne ton regard sur lui et donne-lui la paix.
Que ses pas soient fermes, rapides et clairs,
afin qu’il puisse marcher sur le
chemin du pèlerinage avec joie et détermination.
Qu’il guide votre Église avec sécurité et joie,
en nous guidant sur le chemin du bonheur prudent.
Chez nous, c'est un chrétien, pour nous, c'est un évêque
Puisse-t-il offrir son vœu à Toi, Très Haut,
comme tout chrétien dans la poursuite de cette perfection
à laquelle l’Esprit du Seigneur l’a appelé.
Qu’il embrasse le Christ pauvre et crucifié comme notre pontife.
Qu’il regarde vers Jésus, notre frère et Seigneur...
de le considérer, le contempler,
et de toujours vouloir l’imiter.
Nous prions tout cela pour Ta plus grande gloire,
pour notre sanctification,
pour le bien de toute l’Église
et pour la guérison de toute la terre.
Amen.

​The Catholic Theological Union's John Duns Scotus Chair in Franciscan Spirituality was endowed by a generous gift of the Friars Minor of the St. John the Baptist Province. Their intent is: “through courses, research, and other educational activities, the holder of the Chair promotes the rich spirituality of the Franciscan tradition as well as the other great spiritual resources of the Catholic heritage.” ​

​The J.D. Scotus Chair is presently housed in the Spirituality and Pastoral Ministry Department of the Catholic Theological Union. The Chair develops annual Scotus Day programming in Franciscan Spirituality. 
​
The present holder of the Chair, Br. Gilberto Cavazos-González, OFM, SThD, is a Friar Minor and a Franciscan Scholar with a Doctorate in Sacred Theology specializing in Spirituality with a  Franciscan Spirituality focus. In addition to directing and coordinating all aspects of the J.D. Scotus Chair and its programming, the chair holder teaches courses in the theological study of Christian Spirituality and works with students concentrating in Spirituality, particularly in the Academic M.A. and the D.Min. Program.

​
​The first Scotus Chair of Franciscan Spirituality was Zachary Hayes, OFM a Bonaventure Scholar from the Franciscan Province of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesús of the USA.
Visit Learn @ CTU to watch previous Scotus Lectures.