Vatican City : Pope Francis has urged Catholic universities to rediscover their spiritual and intellectual mission, describing them as “journeys of the mind to God.” Addressing students, professors, and administrators of pontifical universities in Rome, Pope called for an approach to education that goes beyond technical skills or professional outcomes and instead fosters a deeper search for truth and meaning.

Pope emphasized that true learning should not fear questions or doubts. He said universities must cultivate critical thinking that resists intellectual laziness and encourages openness to the mystery of God. Faith and reason, he explained, are not opposing forces but partners that help illuminate the human journey.

His message came as the Church marks the 60th anniversary of Gravissimum educationis, the Second Vatican Council’s declaration on Christian education. To commemorate the occasion, Pope Francis issued an apostolic letter titled Drawing New Maps of Hope, in which he highlights education as a vital path for evangelization and personal transformation.

In his address, Pope urged Catholic educators to see their institutions not just as centers of academic excellence but as spaces that help form the whole person  intellectually, morally, and spiritually. He said universities should be places where truth is pursued with courage and humility, avoiding the temptation to conform to utilitarian or purely technical standards.

Pope Francis also reminded educators that their mission involves guiding students toward wisdom and responsibility, helping them engage the world with compassion and purpose. He called on universities to be communities of dialogue, where faith and culture meet, and where learning becomes a path of hope for the future.

Pope’s message serves as both a challenge and an encouragement for Catholic universities around the world. It invites them to renew their commitment to forming not just skilled professionals, but thoughtful, faith-filled individuals capable of contributing to a more humane and spiritually grounded society.