Pope Leo XIV urges universities to promote justice, support marginalized groups, inspire youth hope, and lead on environmental sustainability.
Newsroom (25/06/2026 Gaudium Press ) Pope Leo XIV on Thursday, June 25, delivered a sweeping appeal to Jesuit colleges and universities in North America, urging them to take a leading role in addressing the complex moral, social, and environmental crises facing the modern world.
Meeting with presidents and representatives of Jesuit institutions at the Vatican, the Pope outlined what he described as a “roadmap” for higher education—one rooted in a commitment to truth, solidarity, and the common good. His remarks emphasized the unique responsibility of universities not only to educate but to serve as catalysts for systemic transformation.
“Your institutions are called not only to teach your students about the injustices faced by those on the margins of society,” Pope Leo said, “but also to be powerful channels in promoting systemic change through proposing new models rooted in solidarity and the common good.”
An ‘Age of Epochal Change’
The Pope framed his address within what he called an “age of epochal change,” marked by profound societal shifts and mounting global challenges. He pointed to increasing secularization, with efforts in some societies to exclude religious discourse from public life, as well as political systems that often fail to respond adequately to the suffering of the poor, migrants, and marginalized communities.
He highlighted widespread disillusionment among young people, many of whom struggle to envision a hopeful future. At the same time, the Pope warned of the misuse of the planet’s resources for narrow personal or economic interests, contributing to environmental degradation.
Adding to these concerns, he noted the growing influence of artificial intelligence, which is rapidly reshaping human experience in ways that demand ethical scrutiny.
Jesuit Principles as a Guiding Framework
Central to the Pope’s message were the Jesuits’ four Universal Apostolic Preferences, established in 2019 to guide the Society of Jesus over a decade. These priorities—showing the way to God, walking with the excluded, accompanying young people, and caring for the common home—formed the backbone of his vision for academic institutions.
He presented these themes not as abstract ideals but as actionable principles, urging universities to integrate them into their teaching, research, and institutional culture.
Expanding Access for Migrants and the Marginalized
Addressing the theme of “walking with the excluded,” Pope Leo underscored the urgent need to respond to rising global displacement and poverty. He pointed to the millions forced to leave their homes due to war, persecution, hunger, or climate change.
Jesuit institutions, he said, have a particular responsibility to extend educational opportunities to immigrants, refugees, and students from disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds.
Such efforts, he argued, would not only support integration into host societies but also enrich academic communities through diverse perspectives and lived experiences. “In this way,” he said, students can contribute meaningfully to the societies in which they live while deepening mutual understanding.
Higher Education’s Role in the Age of Artificial Intelligence
Though not explicitly included among the Apostolic Preferences, the Pope devoted attention to artificial intelligence as a defining issue of the present era. He called on universities to engage both the positive potential and the ethical risks of emerging technologies.
According to Pope Leo, academic institutions are uniquely positioned to apply the principles of Catholic social teaching to the digital revolution. By doing so, they can help ensure that technological progress aligns with human dignity and the common good.
Rekindling Hope Among Young People
Turning to the theme of accompanying youth, the Pope described universities as natural incubators of hope. He observed that students often begin their studies with idealism and a desire to improve the world.
Through intellectual formation, community engagement, and meaningful relationships, he said, institutions can nurture that hope and channel it into constructive action.
“I invite you to continue to foster that sense of hope,” the Pope urged, pointing to dialogue, service, and prayer as essential components of holistic education. He emphasized that, for believers, the resurrection of Christ remains the ultimate source of hope.
Leading by Example on Environmental Stewardship
On environmental responsibility, Pope Leo issued a call for universities to move beyond theory and become living models of sustainability. He referenced the ongoing impacts of climate change and criticized the unequal exploitation of natural resources.
Institutions, he said, should educate their communities about environmental risks while demonstrating practical commitments to ecological responsibility—through sustainable practices, simplified lifestyles, and a spirit of gratitude for creation.
The Search for Truth as a Path to God
In addressing the final Apostolic Preference—“showing the way to God”—the Pope offered a philosophical reflection on the nature of academic inquiry. He suggested that all genuine pursuits of truth ultimately lead toward the divine.
“Those who conduct research, those who pursue studies, and those who seek the truth are ultimately seeking God, whether they realize it or not,” he said.
To support this spiritual dimension, he encouraged Jesuit institutions to cultivate environments where faith and intellect coexist, and to promote practices such as the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola as tools for discernment.
A Call to Form ‘Men and Women for Others’
Concluding his address, Pope Leo XIV reaffirmed the enduring Jesuit mission of forming individuals committed to service. Invoking St. Ignatius of Loyola, he urged institutions to continue shaping students into “men and women for others”—leaders guided by compassion, justice, and a commitment to the common good.
In a world marked by uncertainty and division, the Pope’s message positioned higher education as a critical agent of hope, ethical reflection, and transformative change.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from Vatican News
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