Villanova’s Deepening Connection to Pope Leo XIV and the Vatican

On May 8, 2025, Villanova University became a first—the first American university with a Pope as an alumnus. Pope Leo XIV, formerly Robert Prevost, graduated from the University in 1977 with a bachelor’s degree in mathematics.

In addition to being a Villanovan, Pope Leo is also the first Augustinian friar to be elected to the papacy. In his inaugural address as Pope, the Holy Father stated, “I am a son of Augustine.” He continues to cite St. Augustine regularly in his writings and addresses. That is meaningful to Villanova—the only Augustinian Catholic university in the country—where the values of Veritas, Unitas, Caritas shape the University community. This connection to Pope Leo has helped amplify Villanova’s Augustinian mission to a global audience.

A University Engaged in the Conversation: Extending Villanova’s Mission Globally

As Pope Leo’s alma mater, Villanova has a unique role in conversations about his papacy. Since his election, the University has hosted numerous academic events and discussions focused on Pope Leo, the papacy and the future of the Catholic Church, while faculty, institutes and centers have contributed expertise on issues central to his leadership.

This October, the University will bring its 2026 International Sustainability Conference to Rome. The conference, Responding to the Cries of the Earth and the Poor, draws on the teachings of Pope Francis as well as Pope Leo’s call to care for the poor and marginalized.

Villanova also established the Pope Leo XIV Sustainability Medal, an international honor recognizing individuals whose work advances a holistic vision of sustainability—one that connects care for the environment, social justice, concern for vulnerable populations and responsible stewardship of resources. The inaugural medal will be presented by Pope Leo on Oct. 13 during a special ceremony in Castel Gandolfo as part of Villanova’s International Sustainability Conference.

Living and Learning in Rome

Villanova’s presence in Rome extends even further. This fall, 135 Villanova students are studying abroad in Italy. Twelve of those students are part of the University’s unique Vatican Internship Program, which provides Communication and Computing Sciences majors the opportunity to study in Rome for a semester and complete internships in various Vatican offices and news organizations. The program has had more than 150 student participants since it was launched in 2003.

During Villanova’s Fall Break (Oct. 12-16), several other programs and courses will bring students to Rome to explore the University’s Augustinian heritage, the Catholic tradition and the city’s history.

• Augustinian Pellegrinaggio: The Center for Church Management in the Villanova School of Business will lead students on a pilgrimage from Milan to Florence to Rome, following in the footsteps of St. Augustine and visiting Augustinian communities and significant sites from his life.
• Becoming What We Are Not Yet: On Pilgrimage with Augustine: This new Humanities course explores St. Augustine’s understanding of pilgrimage and the virtues he believed were essential to this life. Students will visit sites connected to St. Augustine’s life and the heritage of the Augustinian Order.
• Rome: City of Emperors, Popes and Saints: The History Department’s embedded course gives students the opportunity to study Rome’s history while visiting sites connected to its emperors, popes and saints.

A Shared Catholic Heritage Takes Center Stage

As the calendar turns to November, Villanova and the University of Notre Dame will meet in Rome for a unique celebration of the institutions’ shared Catholic missions and heritage. The jointly hosted event, the Eternal City Tip-Off, will feature a men’s and women’s basketball doubleheader on Nov. 1, along with special programming that brings together academics, athletics and spirituality.  The events also include a private Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica and a panel discussion on Sports and Spirituality.

Villanova in Italy … By the Numbers

• 6,000 Villanovans will be in Rome for the Eternal City tipoff
• 350 Attendees from 30 countries will be attending Villanova’s 2026 International Sustainability Conference
• 135 Villanova students are currently studying abroad in Italy
• 12 Villanova students are currently interning at the Vatican
• 3 Academic courses are traveling to Italy over Fall Break (totaling more than 40 students)