John McKniff was born on September 5, 1905, in Media, Pennsylvania. Shortly after graduating from elementary school, he joined the Augustinian Order, where he took his perpetual vows. He studied at Villanova College and at the Augustinians’ International College of St. Monica in Rome. In 1930, he was ordained a priest and then studied philosophy at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum).
After returning to the US, he worked in a formation house. However, he didn’t want to remain in his home country and volunteered for a mission to the Philippines, where he worked in a school teaching chemistry. Due to an accident in the laboratory, he had to return to the United States. However, this didn’t dampen his missionary zeal.
Cuban by choice
John McKniff went to Cuba, where he worked for 27 years. He became known as a zealous pastor, founding groups for young people and adults. He encouraged people to meet in their homes for prayer. He opened a school for the poor, where children studied during the day and adults in the evenings. He also opened a medical and dental clinic.
When Fidel Castro took power on the island, the persecution of priests and their removal from Cuba began. Father McKniff was preparing to leave the island when he received a phone call from the Vatican:
“I hear you are leaving Cuba. Why?” asked the Vatican official.
“Provincial orders,” replied Father McKniff.
“Do you want to stay in Cuba?”
“Then, on behalf of the Holy See, stay in Cuba.”
For eight years, he worked as the only Augustinian in Cuba. He received death threats and spent time in prison. Despite this, he continued to work zealously for the Cuban people. Finally, in 1968, he returned to the US for health reasons. The Cuban authorities wouldn’t allow him to come back, so he had to leave his parishioners. For three years, he served the Spanish-speaking population in Troy, New York.
Meeting with the future pope
Despite being in his 70s, Father John McKniff sought permission to go on a mission to Peru. He finally obtained permission and ended up in the prelature of Chulucanas. Once again, he threw himself into evangelization and pastoral work. He helped implement a pastoral plan in Chulucanas called “New Image of the Parish,” which aimed to involve the laity in parish life.
John was returning from vacation to continue his work in Peru, and Prevost was beginning his ministry in the formation of postulants for the Augustinian Order.
Did John McKniff pray for an Augustinian pope?
John McKniff had to leave for the United States once again for health reasons. At the end of February 1994, he set off on his return journey to Peru. He stopped in Miami, Florida. There he fainted and was taken to hospital, where he died on March 24, 1994. In 2002, he was declared a Servant of God.
A few days before the conclave, to which Cardinal Robert Prevost was heading, the postulator of the beatification of Brother Fidel Alvarado sent a text message to the cardinal. He expressed a hope that Prevost himself would become pope.
Cardinal Prevost replied that it was up to God. So Brother Alvarado replied, “In that case, I will pray and ask John McKniff to perform a miracle for us.”
Did the Servant of God John McKniff intercede for an Augustinian pope? Only God knows! He also knows if (or when) the Augustinian pope will raise his confrere to the glory of the altars.
