VILLANOVA UNIVERSITY NEWS

Associated Press
Pope Prays at Catholic Shrine in Angola That Was a Center of African Slave Trade

April 19, 2026 - Pope Leo has not spoken publicly about his family heritage or the genealogical research, and some Black Catholic scholars were hesitant to impose on him a narrative about his identity that he himself has not yet addressed. “It’s important that we tell our own stories,” said Tia Noelle Pratt, a sociologist of religion and professor at Villanova University, the pope’s alma mater.

The Philadelphia Inquirer
Philly’s April Hot Spell has Set Records. But Does it Mean Anything for the Summer?

April 16, 2026 - Ruth McDermott-Levy, co-director of the Mid-Atlantic Center for Children’s Health and the Environment at Villanova University, has a particular interest in weather-body matters. She said the hot spell was a decent warmup for the heat almost certainly to come. “Driving into work, I see all these workers out fixing the roads,” she said. “I want to scream, ‘Are you drinking enough water? Are you taking breaks from the heat?’

The Washington Post
How Geography Powers Iran’s Grip on the Strait of Hormuz, Despite U.S. Blockade

April 14, 2026 - Shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remains constrained. Crews crossing the narrow strait also have to worry about sea mines, which can detonate upon contact or upon sensing movement. "Mines are a psychological issue as much as they are a real issue," said Frank Galgano, an associate professor of geography and the environment at Villanova University, adding that it would take several weeks to clear mines from the navigation lanes.

CNN
'A Man of Peace': Pope Leo Embarks on a Marathon Visit to Africa

April 13, 2026 - During his pontificate Leo has talked about the importance of protecting the planet, so environmental stewardship could be a topic he addresses while in Angola and elsewhere in Africa. “By modeling peace as a ‘humble and disarming’ force, the pope not only draws global attention to the region’s suffering but also positions the African Church as a trusted mediator for reconciliation,” said Jaisy A. Joseph, a theologian at Villanova University.

Associated Press
Pope Making First Papal Visit to Algeria to Launch Africa Trip and Honor Locally Born St. Augustine

April 13, 2026 - From his first public words as pope, Leo proclaimed himself a “son of St. Augustine,” and he has repeatedly cited the church father in speeches and homilies. “I don’t know if I have seen a statement, a homily, an apostolic letter or exhortation that doesn’t reference Augustine,” said Paul Camacho, associate director of the Augustinian Institute at Villanova University, Leo’s Augustinian-run alma mater outside Philadelphia.

The Wall Street Journal
Pope Leo Promotes a Global Vision in Africa

April 12, 2026 - Africa is home to one-fifth of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics, and Catholicism is growing faster there than anywhere else. Africa also produces more priests than any other region. “The church is thriving in many parts of Africa, and seminaries there are full in a way they are not in the U.S. or Europe,” said Kevin Hughes, a professor of theology at Villanova University. “The future of the church is as much below the equator as above it.”