Fr Joseph Lam, Parish Priest of Baulkham Hills and friend of Pope Leo XIV, has released a new book shedding light on the profound theological currents linking four major figures in Church history and modern leadership: St Augustine of Hippo, Pope Benedict XVI, Pope Francis, and the newly elected Pope Leo XIV.
Titled Augustine, Benedict XVI, Francis and Leo XIV: Theological Affinity, the book explores how Pope Leo XIV’s spirituality is rooted in the Augustinian tradition and how it resonates with the intellectual and pastoral emphases of his immediate predecessors – Francis and Benedict XVI. The work is a timely contribution to ecclesial scholarship and a valuable resource for understanding the emerging theological profile of the current Holy Father.
Fr Lam has a particular affinity with the last three popes, in particular, Pope Benedict XIV and Pope Leo XIV, having worked closely with the latter in Rome when he was part of the Augustinian Order and then-Bishop Prevost was the Prior General of the Augustinians. Fr Lam worked closely with Prevost in many roles, including Secretary General, Finance and Communications Director, and more.
Fr Joseph Lam (right) meeting Pope Benedict XVI. Image: Supplied
In his humility, Fr Lam doesn’t claim to know Pope Leo, as “nobody can claim to know a person, but from the distance because I lived and worked [in the Vatican] when Prevost was the boss… in my small capacity, I served in my function, and there was an affinity to him.”
After hearing the announcement that Cardinal Prevost was the new Pope, Fr Lam was inspired to write another book dedicated to him. It’s the second on him but the ninth book the prolific priest has written. He has also authored numerous articles over the years.
His first book on then-Prevost was in 2009 as a thank you for the pastoral support that Prevost gave him. In order to understand this, we need to understand more about Fr Lam’s history which is interconnected with our recent popes.
Fr Joseph Lam during his time as Parish Priest of St Finbar’s Parish, Glenbrook. Image: Diocese of Parramatta
Fr Lam was born in Vietnam, migrated to Germany when he was three and grew up in Munich when Cardinal Ratzinger was Archbishop. He joined the Augustinians and had a love for academia and writing. Prevost called him to Rome to help run the Augustinian Order, which he enjoyed.
“I like to just be in the background. I like to just be a secretary.”
But life in Rome became taxing. “It was too clerical,” he says. He hadn’t experienced parish life and was getting very tired. He even considered leaving the priesthood.
“I was thinking of retiring from the priesthood. He [Prevost] told me not to rush a decision. He sent me to San Gimignano, close to Florence [to the Augustinian monastery] and he often called to see how I was. He would always pop in when he was close.”
“He would always find time to connect with a brother. I have great admiration for him. It seems like with him, as with Augustine and with [Pope] Francis, every person is important. They are not just a number.”
“It just shows his humanity…. I always cherish this in my heart.”
Fr Joseph Lam (left), when he was an Augustinian, with Cardinal Robert Prevost, the future Pope Leo XIV, in 2010. Image: Supplied
But Fr Lam was keen to experience parish life. He told Prevost he wanted to go as far away from Rome as possible. Prevost replied, “Is Australia far enough?” and Fr Lam moved to Australia – at the invitation of Fr Tony Banks, then provincial superior of the Augustinian province in Australia – and served in Brisbane, but was moved around from parish to parish, which exacerbated his exhaustion. He called Bishop Vincent Long OFM Conv, who told him to come to Parramatta for more stability. He became an incardinated priest of the Diocese of Parramatta and has been serving God and the parishioners in Glenbrook and Baulkham Hills since.
When asked about Prevost’s reaction to him no longer being an Augustinian, Fr Lam replied, “I’m not sure what Prevost’s reaction was, but I was very tired… I last spoke to him four years ago at a conference in Rome and he said, ‘as long as I serve the church, and I’m happy with what I do, this for him, is enough.’”
While his first book dedicated to Prevost was to thank him for his support, the next book is a thanksgiving for his election as Pope and to help people understand where Prevost’s spiritual heritage and theology comes from.
“Having read his doctorate again, and his first homilies, this reminds that he is a true son of Augustine.”
“I wanted to spend time to illustrate that what Benedict XIV started (as a great Augustine scholar), then what Francis has tried to do on a practical level, and now Leo.
“The book is about St Augustine in the theology of Benedict XIV, Francis and now Leo.”
The front cover of ‘Augustine, Benedict XVI, Francis and Leo XIV: Theological Affinity’ by Fr Joseph Lam. Image: Supplied
The book is now available and will be officially launched at a special forum at Holy Spirit Seminary, Harris Park, on Monday 25 August 2025, titled “The Spiritual and Theological Roots of Pope Leo XVI”.
The evening will include a special presentation by Emeritus Bishop of Broken Bay, Most Reverend David Walker on “The Pontificate of Leo XIV: Challenges and Points of Hope”, as well as an introduction by Fr Dr John Frauenfelder, Vice-Rector of the Holy Spirit Seminary, with moderation of the event by Fr Paul Marshall, Rector of the Holy Spirit Seminary.
If you would like a copy of the book, please contact Baulkham Hills Parish via admin@parishofbaulkhamhills.org with Subject Line: Book Order.
Fr Joseph Lam is the Parish Priest of Baulkham Hills Parish. He is a prolific writer, having authored over eight books and countless articles. He can speak six languages fluently, but if you give him a whiskey, “I can speak all languages,” he jokes.
