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President Mark C. Reed met with Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican on Thursday as part of a private audience with presidents of Jesuit colleges and universities from across North America.
Reed presented the pope with a statue of St. Ignatius of Loyola on behalf of Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities (AJCU) member institutions—a gift symbolizing their shared Jesuit mission and the deep connection between Jesuit higher education and the Church.
“It was a true privilege to be in Pope Leo’s presence and present him with a gift on behalf of the AJCU delegation,” Reed said. “The Holy Father emphasized the critical role of institutions of higher education to address the multitude of challenges facing humanity today. As a Catholic and Jesuit institution, Loyola draws strength from this clear message of encouragement and support for our educational mission.”
Fr. Thomas Neitzke, S.J., senior vice president and special assistant to President Reed, also presented Pope Leo with a binder of archival materials related to the pope’s mother, Mildred Martinez, who attended Mundelein College, now a part of Loyola University Chicago, in the 1930s. The materials compiled by Loyola’s Women and Leadership Archives include photographs from 1936 and 1937, choir programs, and student newspaper clippings.
The pope’s connection to Loyola was highlighted in May, when Reed joined a Chicago civic delegation for a private Vatican audience. During that visit, Pope Leo mentioned that his mother had attended Mundelein College and that his brother John is a proud Loyola alumnus. Reed called the experience “a grace-filled moment.”
In his address, Pope Leo spoke to the power of universities in facing some of society’s greatest challenges. He emphasized as powerful tools in working toward the common good.
“Students normally begin their academic careers full of idealism and energy, often seeking to serve the needs of others,” he said. “The studies that take place on your campuses, the friendships that naturally blossom there and the opportunity for all in your academic communities to encounter the thought and research of great scholars, both past and present, can bring a sense of hope and the promise of what could change for the better.”
The papal audience was among several meetings during a pilgrimage in Rome organized by the AJCU for the leaders of Jesuit colleges and universities. In a session with V. Rev. Arturo Sosa, S.J., Superior General of the Society of Jesus, presidents discussed discernment and formation for college trustees and opportunities for collaboration among Jesuit institutions worldwide.
