VILLANOVA UNIVERSITY NEWS
Cardinal Czerny Named Inaugural Recipient of Villanova’s Pope Leo XIV Sustainability Medal
Villanova University has announced Cardinal Michael Czerny, SJ, as the inaugural laureate of the Pope Leo XIV Sustainability Medal, a newly established distinction recognizing outstanding leadership at the intersection of sustainability, ethics and integral human development. Pope Leo XIV will confer the distinction on Cardinal Czerny on Oct. 13, 2026, at Borgo Laudato Si’, in the Pontifical Gardens of Castel Gandolfo.
Need an Expert?
Villanova boasts internationally recognized experts in all fields.
VILLANOVA IN THE NEWS
EWTN News
Pope Leo XIV and Villanova's New Sustainability Medal
September 21, 2026 - Since the publication of Pope Francis’ encyclical Laudato Si’ in 2015, the Catholic Church has placed integral ecology at the heart of its response to climate change, linking care for creation with the protection of human life and dignity. EWTN News correspondent Paola Arriaza Flynn spoke with Father John Abubakar, Villanova University’s Chief Sustainability Officer, about the University’s commitment to integral ecology and the vision behind the new award.
September 18, 2026 - Still, plenty of investors and academics see a deeply interconnected system that’s vulnerable to smaller shocks. “We have this ecosystem that’s spun up around AI,” said John Sedunov, a finance professor at Villanova University. “There are a bunch of companies that are very reliant on each other. And when you break a link in a chain like that, then there’s bound to be fallout.”
CNBC
IRS Tax Debt Agreements Have Plummeted: 'I've Never Seen a Number That Low,' Taxpayer Advocate Says
September 18, 2026 - The financial amount of offers in compromise has steadily declined alongside the total number of accepted offers: OICs accepted by the IRS in fiscal year 2025 were worth $98.1 million, less than half the $214.5 million in 2023, data shows. “These numbers are alarming,” said Leslie Book, a law professor at Villanova University and director of the school’s Tax Clinic, which provides free legal representation to low-income individuals in tax disputes.
Vatican News
Pope's Alma Mater Reveals First Pope Leo XIV Sustainability Medal Recipient
September 14, 2026 - At a press conference held in the Sala San Pio X of the Vatican, Villanova University announces that Cardinal Michael Czerny, S.J., was selected as the inaugural recipient of the Pope Leo XIV Sustainability Medal, and reveals new details about the upcoming 2026 Villanova University International Sustainability Conference.
New York Times
Most People Don't Think About Culverts. Their Failure Can be Deadly.
September 13, 2026 - A culvert failure on the Tulalip Indian Reservation in Washington State left two dozen residents stranded in 2024. “Frustrated residents,” a local outlet reported, were “forced to use ladders and makeshift walkways.” “As we get more intense rainfalls, we’re going to have more failures,” said Robert G. Traver, a professor of civil and environmental engineering at Villanova and the former and founding director of its Center for Resilient Water Systems, who was not involved with the study.
Washington Post
U.S. Announces Bans on Canadian Imports Including Alcohol, Motorcycles
September 8, 2026 - While that’s a small portion of the total imports the U.S. brings in from Canada, the ban is “unprecedented” for the two countries, which had enjoyed harmonious trade relations for decades, said one trade expert. “It’s extraordinarily unusual, and especially for what had been a very close ally and trading partner,” said Jonathan Doh, an international business professor at Villanova University.
Follow @VillanovaU on Social Media
VILLANOVA MAGAZINE
With the first Augustinian pope guiding the Church, Villanova highlights what it means to live a life rooted in truth, unity and love
Villanova’s world-renowned lizard expert has built a scientific family tree —one discovery, and one student, at a time
A medieval chalice is a symbol of Villanova’s lasting relationship with Ireland