Pope Leo XIV urges higher education leaders to build ridges and tackle global challenges
Pope Leo XIV urges 200 university leaders at Rio de Janeiro summit to build bridges between the Americas and Iberian Peninsula, emphasizing the role of higher education in promoting social, ecological, and economic justice.
At the international summit held at the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro, Pope Leo XIV delivered a powerful video message to the 200 university rectors gathered from North, Central, and South America, as well as the Iberian Peninsula.
The pope highlighted the vital role universities play in fostering social justice, ecological responsibility, and economic fairness.
Pope Leo XIV and Pope Francis' legacy
Pope Francis had established a public and ecologic debt from the Catholic Church for the LVIII World Day of Peace, and according to Pope Leo XIV "this jubilee year, a year of hope, this message is more important than ever".
Additionally, the pontiff also encouraged the academic leaders to act as "builders of bridges" between the Americas and the Iberian Peninsula. According to Leo XIV, it is of utmost importance to integrate many different regions through education and work to get a solution for climate change, social inequality, and sustainable development.
The Vatican’s commitment to education and global challenges
This gathering reflects the Vatican’s commitment to involving the academic community in tackling global crises.
Pope Leo XIV underlined that universities must engage with real-world issues and avoid becoming isolated "bubbles," contributing instead to ethical reflection, innovation, and societal well-being.
