Press Release

Visit of the Holy Father Francis to the Pontifical Gregorian University on the occasion of the Dies Academicus

In the morning of Tuesday 5 November, on the occasion of its Dies Academicus, the Pontifical Gregorian University will have the joy of welcoming the Holy Father Francis to listen to his words.

The meeting will be introduced by a greeting from the M.R.P. Arturo Sosa S.J., Prepositor General of the Society of Jesus and Vice Grand Chancellor of the Pontifical Gregorian University, and the Rector Fr. Mark A. Lewis, S.J. The programme will be concluded by the conferral of various academic awards for the University’s three missions.

The Pontifical Gregorian University is the oldest of the Roman Pontifical Universities. Its origins date back to the initiative of Saint Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Society of Jesus, who in the year 1551 laid the foundations of the Roman College, also known as “Universitas omnium Nationum”, in the service of the universal Church. In 1873, Pope Pius IX decreed that the university officially assume the new name of the Pontifical Gregorian University. In 1930, the new and current campus in Piazza della Pilotta was inaugurated.

From 19 May 2024, another two institutions entrusted to the Society of Jesus – the Pontifical Biblical Institute and the Pontifical Oriental Institute – were incorporated definitively in the Gregorian, as requested by Pope Francis. The Pontifical Biblical Institute, founded in 1909 by Pius X, is a study centre highly specialized in the Sacred Scriptures and the sciences connected to them. The Pontifical Oriental Institute, founded in 1917 by Pope Benedict XV, is a higher institute of research and study on the Christian East, with the specific mission of service to the Eastern Churches.

“This visit by Pope Francis celebrates a milestone in our history”, explains the Rector, Fr. Mark Lewis, S.J. “The University’s three missions, with the incorporation of the Biblican and Oriental to the original mission of the Gregorian, create new synergies and open up new horizons. We are happy to welcome the Holy Father at this historical moment”.

At present, the Pontifical Gregorian University has 2952 students of 121 nationalities. Through its sixteen academic units – which explore disciples such as theology, philosophy, oriental ecclesiastical sciences, canon law, studies on the ancient Near East, biblical archaeology, social sciences, history and cultural heritage of the Church, psychology, anthropology and safeguarding, Jewish studies, and interreligious studies – the Gregorian offers a broad and rich academic offering that embraces both the tradition of the Latin Church and those of the Eastern Churches.

Accreditation procedure

Journalists and media operators who wish to attend must apply, no later than 48 hours before the event, via the Holy See Press Office online accreditation system, at: press.vatican.va/accreditamenti

Pontifical Gregorian University
Piazza della Pilotta, 4, 00187 ROME

Dr. Paolo Pegoraro: +39 06 6701 5634 +39 342 5401 898 press@unigre.it