What a proud and extraordinary day for Villanova University and the global Church! Today, in St. Peter’s Square in front of Catholics from around the world, Cardinal Robert Prevost, now known as His Holiness Pope Leo XIV, was named the first Augustinian Pope. The selection of Pope Leo XIV by the College of Cardinals comes less than two years after he was announced as cardinal designate by the late Pope Francis, a position to which he was formally installed in September 2023, during a consistory at the Vatican on the eve of the Synod of Synodality.
Pope Leo XIV is a Villanova alumnus who earned his Bachelor of Science in Mathematics in 1977 and received an honorary Doctor of Humanities, honoris causa, from the University in 2014. Pope Leo XIV was born in Chicago and joined the Order of St. Augustine, taking his first vows in 1978. Following his undergraduate studies at Villanova, he earned a Master of Divinity from the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago in 1982 and was ordained a priest the same year. Pope Leo XIV went on to earn both licentiate (1984) and doctorate (1987) degrees in canon law from the Pontifical College of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome.
As an Augustinian Catholic institution, we celebrate this significant day for our University community. Villanova, built on the teachings of St. Augustine, has always been grounded in advancing a deeper understanding of the fundamental relationship between faith and reason—between spirituality and wisdom. With today’s election of His Holiness, Pope Leo XIV, I cannot help but reflect on what his Augustinian papacy will mean to our University community and our world.
A new Pope brings fresh perspectives, renewed priorities and spiritual guidance, all of which can deepen our mission, strengthen our values and enrich our community. Known for his humility, gentle spirit, prudence and warmth, Pope Leo XIV’s leadership offers an opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to our educational mission, through an Augustinian lens, as we pursue intellectual and spiritual growth.
As we embark on this new chapter of Catholic leadership, let us remain open to the wisdom, inspiration and opportunities that change brings. May we be challenged to reexamine our role in fostering an academic environment that remains steadfast in faith yet boldly engages with the complexities of the modern world. May we find renewed purpose in our shared mission—cultivating unity, compassion and thoughtful inquiry—while continuing the essential dialogue between faith and reason. And may we continue to find meaningful ways to integrate these themes into our curriculum, campus initiatives and community outreach.
Finally, as a University community, let us take time for prayer, reflection and thoughtful discourse as we look ahead to the guidance of the Holy Father. May his leadership strengthen our resolve, inspire meaningful action, and remind us that as educators, students and individuals, we are called not only to learn but also to lead with courage, wisdom and faith.
Sincerely,
Rev. Peter M. Donohue, OSA
President
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