Pope Leo XIV expressed the desire that Christ “may be the compass that guides the work of the universities over which you preside,”
Newsroom (30/07/2025, Gaudium Press ) In a letter addressed to the International Federation of Catholic Universities (IFCU) on the occasion of its 28th General Assembly and centenary celebration in Guadalajara, Mexico, Pope Leo XIV called on Catholic universities to serve as “pathways of the mind toward God,” resisting the allure of modern ideologies and grounding their mission in Christ’s wisdom.
The assembly, themed “Catholic universities, choreographers of knowledge,” prompted the pontiff to reflect on the role of these institutions in an era of competing worldviews. He described the theme as a call to “harmony, unity, dynamism, and joy,” but cautioned against “siren songs” that captivate through novelty, popularity, or false security. Quoting Saint Bonaventure, the Pope urged universities to guide souls toward divine truth, echoing Saint Augustine’s insight that the human soul, without God, lacks its own light or power.
Drawing on Saint Paul’s question to the Romans—“What profit did you get then from the works of which you are now ashamed?” (Rom 6:21)—the Pope highlighted the limitations of human reason absent Christ, whom he described as the “keystone” giving meaning to intellectual and societal pursuits. He cited Saint Thomas Aquinas to affirm that wisdom, whether intellectual or divine, enables dialogue with diverse cultures without compromising faith.
The Pope concluded by encouraging IFCU members to let “Christ-Wisdom” guide their institutions, fostering a renewed evangelization in higher education. He imparted his Apostolic Blessing to the assembly, which marks a century of the IFCU’s commitment to Catholic scholarship.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from the Vatican
Related Images:
