Pope Leo XIV met with the presidents and representatives of Jesuit colleges and universities in North America, highlighting the role of higher education institutions in confronting the challenges facing humanity today. Drawing on the Jesuits’ four Universal Apostolic Preferences—showing the way to God, walking with the excluded, journeying with youth, and caring for our common home—the Pope outlined how universities can contribute to the common good.

The Pope described the current period as an “age of epochal change,” marked by growing secularization, the marginalization of the poor and migrants, a lack of hope among young people, environmental exploitation, and the increasing impact of artificial intelligence. He said universities should not only educate students about social injustices but also help promote systemic change through models rooted in solidarity and the common good.

Focusing on the theme of walking with the excluded, Pope Leo stressed the importance of offering educational opportunities to immigrants, refugees, and people from disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds. He noted that access to higher education can help them integrate more fully into society while enriching academic communities through their experiences and perspectives.

Addressing artificial intelligence, the Pope said universities are uniquely positioned to examine both its positive and negative consequences. He encouraged institutions to apply the principles of the Church’s Social Doctrine in ways that can effectively respond to the challenges of the digital revolution.

Turning to young people, Pope Leo described colleges and universities as natural places for fostering hope. He encouraged academic communities to promote dialogue, service, and prayer, reminding them that Christian hope is rooted in the Resurrection of Christ. On environmental issues, he called on institutions to educate by example, promoting ecological sustainability, simplicity, and gratitude for God’s gifts.

Finally, reflecting on the preference of showing the way to God, the Pope said that all who seek truth through study and research are ultimately seeking God. He encouraged the promotion of the Spiritual Exercises as a means of discernment and concluded by urging Jesuit institutions to continue forming “men and women for others” in the tradition of St. Ignatius of Loyola. 

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Click here to read the speech: Address of Pope Leo Xiv to members of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities