Pope Leo XIV received students and faculty from Oriel College in audience. The fifth-oldest college at the University of Oxford was the home of St. John Henry Newman for many years.
The pope recalled the college’s Catholic origins.
LEON XIV
Oriel certainly has a long and illustrious history, which naturally, over such an extended period of time, has witnessed and experienced many changes, events and even upheavals. Yet the College has remained firm in its Christian identity.
The pope also paid tribute to Newman, whom he named a Doctor of the Church in 2025.
LEON XIV
In the context of today’s challenges, Newman’s own thought on education is particularly relevant, for he proposes a Christian formation that embraces the entire person and measures the value of education according to human dignity
Pope Leo XIV concluded by urging the college to courageously seek the truth and promote a holistic view of the human person.
