Vatican City: Pope Leo XIV has urged students and professors at Catholic universities to ask questions, use reason and pursue truth together, saying that critical thinking is an essential part of the journey of faith. He called on the academic community to use education in the service of the Church and society, while building friendships and sharing knowledge with others.
The Pope delivered the message during a Mass in St Peter’s Basilica on Thursday evening, October 8, marking the opening of the new academic year for Rome’s pontifical universities and other ecclesiastical institutions of higher education. Around 5,000 people attended the celebration.
In his homily, Leo said the start of an academic year should mean more than returning to lectures, studies and research. He encouraged students and teachers to see their academic work as a service to faith and truth, guided by the Holy Spirit and carried out as a shared mission.
He explained that reason, questioning and reflection on the Word of God and the Tradition of the Church are important for those seeking to follow Jesus Christ. He also expressed hope that the new academic year would strengthen the community's common purpose through prayer and the celebration of the Eucharist.
Reflecting on a passage from the Apostle Paul’s Letter to the Galatians, the Pope described intelligence as essential to faith and mission. He said that study and research should not be undertaken only for personal benefit but should be shared with others and carried out in cooperation with the Lord.
Leo also warned against the misuse of religious teaching. He said that false teachers in every age have taken advantage of people's religious devotion for their own purposes, sometimes encouraging extreme interpretations of particular teachings while neglecting the wider message of Christ and the Gospel.
The Pope further explained that intelligence involves more than collecting and organising information. He distinguished human understanding from the speed at which an algorithm can process data, emphasising the importance of remembering experiences and recognising their deeper meaning and goodness.
Turning to relationships within universities, Leo encouraged students and professors to value the friendships they develop through their studies. He described friendship as a precious gift, especially when it grows through a shared search for truth in Christ.
He also urged the academic community to connect learning with everyday life rather than treating education as separate from the realities people face. Students and teachers, he said, should allow their faith to inform their academic work and share the knowledge and opportunities they receive.
The Pope reminded those present that many people do not have the same access to education. He encouraged them to respond with generosity by opening opportunities to others instead of keeping their knowledge and advantages to themselves.
Addressing the international character of Rome’s pontifical universities, Leo said students from Africa, Asia, the Americas, Europe and Oceania share their classrooms. He urged them to go beyond studying alongside one another and make genuine efforts to meet, listen, talk, pray and share their experiences of the Church.
He encouraged students to build friendships that could continue throughout their lives, stressing the importance of learning from people with different backgrounds and experiences. Such relationships, he suggested, could strengthen their shared mission and deepen their understanding of the universal Church.
Around 11,750 students are enrolled at the pontifical universities, colleges and institutes in Rome. They include priests, seminarians, religious and lay people from different parts of the world who come to the Italian capital for higher education and research.
Concluding his message, Leo encouraged the academic community to make the most of its time in Rome, recalling the witness of Saints Peter and Paul. He referred to Peter's profession of faith unto martyrdom and Paul's perseverance in the faith, presenting their lives as important examples for those preparing to serve the Church and its people.