On May 8, 2025, Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost was elected Pope Leo XIV, becoming the first American pontiff in the history of the Roman Catholic Church.

Remarkably, this global spiritual leader has a lesser-known connection to Pollachi, a small town in Tamil Nadu’s Coimbatore district, where he visited nearly two decades ago.

In October 2006, as Prior General of the Order of St. Augustine, Prevost spent time at the Sancta Monica Community of Augustinian Fathers and Shenbagam Matriculation Higher Secondary School in Zamin Uthukuli, near Pollachi.

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During his visit, Prevost, then a humble priest, engaged warmly with students, priests, and staff, leaving a lasting impression.

A photograph from that day, now viral, shows him standing at the school’s gate, a quiet moment that has gained profound significance. Father Sumesh Joseph Illikkaparambil, the school’s current correspondent, proudly shared the image, noting the pride felt by the community. Prevost’s visit, one of two he made to India (2004 and 2006), also included interactions with Augustinian communities in Kerala.

The revelation of Pope Leo XIV’s Pollachi connection has sparked joy across Tamil Nadu, with social media posts celebrating the “future pope” who once walked their streets.

For the Shenbagam School community, that unassuming afternoon in 2006 is now a cherished memory, symbolizing a bridge between a small Indian town and the Vatican’s highest office, inspiring faith and unity.

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