VILLANOVA UNIVERSITY NEWS

CNN
On the Eve of America's Birthday, the First American Pope Takes Center Stage

July 3, 2026 - On Friday, Pope Leo formally accepted the Liberty Medal from the National Constitution Center, a non-partisan non-profit located across from Independence Hall where the Declaration of Independence was signed ... “I think [the Pope] has been a conciliatory figure,” said Michael Moreland, professor of Law and Religion at Villanova University. “...He can be a source of unity and pride certainly for American Catholics especially, but [also] for Americans generally at a time of sometimes national division.”

Philadelphia Inquirer
The Hot Nights Are Getting More Dangerous as Philly's Rowhouses Become 'Brick Ovens'

July 3, 2026 - Amid the heat wave, Sunny G. Hallowell, associate professor of nursing at Villanova University, recommends cool showers and tepid baths. Also, especially with storms threatened, be prepared for power outages. She suggested storing damp towels in the refrigerator or freezer as a quick cool-down resource should the A/C go off.

NPR
Americans Are Showing Up for the World Cup in Record-Breaking Numbers

July 1, 2026 - The World Cup began dogged by criticism over sky-high ticket prices and concerns that the U.S. was a problematic host. None of those issues have been resolved. But Americans are showing up anyway for the world's most beloved sport and in record-breaking numbers. "Soccer has won," said Bret Myers, who teaches sports analytics at Villanova University's School of Business. " In the sense of, it has kind of drowned out any potential issues or any of the controversies that were bubbling before the tournament."

Vatican News
Beyond the Shipwreck: Transforming the Global Migrant Phenomenon

July 1, 2026 - "Looking at Pope Leo’s short pontificate to date, we can easily see some of the central concerns that arise as he reads the 'signs of the times', and help the Church discern God’s wisdom in responding to those challenges. One of these is the Migrant and Refugee Crisis, which has often become a political lightning rod in many countries of Europe and North America." ... Father John Lydon, OSA is the director of the Mother Cabrini Institute on Immigration at Villanova University.

National Catholic Register
Villanova's Moment: The Catholic College That "Won" the NBA Championship

June 24, 2026 - The New York Knicks won the NBA championship on June 13—the franchise's first title in more than 50 years—and three of the team's key contributors shared a Villanova connection... For Villanova, the moment was more than a statistical anomaly. Alumni, university leaders and chaplains described it not as coincidence but as the culmination of relationships and shared values cultivated over decades.

NPR
Congress Passes the Largest Housing Affordability Bill in Decades

June 24, 2026 - The main issue this bill tries to address is that the U.S. does not have enough houses to keep up with demand... "Supply is the key problem here," said Jeanna Kenney, assistant professor of economics, finance and real estate at Villanova University. "Anything you can do to make supply easier is going to be helpful in the long term."