Villanova University to Host “Pope Leo @ One: Augustinian, Pastoral, Prophetic”

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VILLANOVA, Pa. (March 30, 2026) – Villanova University will host a panel discussion, “Pope Leo @ One: Augustinian, Pastoral, Prophetic,” on Tuesday, April 28, from 5 to 6:30 p.m. in the Villanova Room of the Connelly Center. Marking the first anniversary of Pope Leo XIV’s election, the event will explore the early direction of his papacy through the lens of Villanova’s Augustinian Catholic tradition, with a focus on pastoral leadership, prophetic witness and engagement with the global Church.

Hosted by Villanova’s Office for Mission and Ministry, the panel will feature experts and thought leaders discussing Pope Leo XIV’s influences, emerging priorities and the path ahead. The discussion will be facilitated by Tia Noelle Pratt, PhD, special assistant to the Vice President for Mission & Ministry and director of Mission Engagement and Strategic Initiatives for Mission and Ministry. Opening remarks will be delivered by the Rev. Peter M. Donohue, OSA, PhD, Villanova University President.

Featured panelists include:

• Robert Cardinal McElroy, archbishop of Washington, who participated in the May 2025 conclave that elected Pope Leo XIV
• Justin McLellan, Vatican correspondent for the National Catholic Reporter
• The Rev. John J. Lydon, OSA, PhD, inaugural director of Villanova’s Mother Cabrini Institute on Immigration
• Jaisy A. Joseph, PhD, assistant professor of Theology and Religious Studies at Villanova University
• Hannah Kalamarides ’26 CLAS, Villanova student and synodal fellow in the University’s Office for Mission and Ministry, who participated in the Jubilee Year of the Synod in Rome in October 2025

Together, the panelists will offer diverse perspectives on Pope Leo XIV’s leadership, the global Church and the ongoing Synod on Synodality, reflecting Villanova’s commitment to dialogue, discernment and community engagement.

The event is free and open to the public, but advance registration is required. A livestream also will be available.

About Villanova University: Since 1842, Villanova University’s Augustinian Catholic intellectual tradition has been the cornerstone of an academic community in which students learn to think critically, act compassionately and succeed while serving others. There are more than 10,000 undergraduate, graduate and law students in the University's six colleges—the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, the Villanova School of Business, the College of Engineering, the M. Louise Fitzpatrick College of Nursing, the College of Professional Studies and the Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law. Ranked among the nation’s top universities, Villanova supports its students’ intellectual growth and prepares them to become ethical leaders who create positive change everywhere life takes them. For more, visit www.villanova.edu.