Rockhurst President Meets with Pope Leo
Rockhurst University President Sandra Cassady, Ph.D., met Pope Leo XIV at the end of June, part of a delegation of presidents of Jesuit colleges and universities from the United States, Canada and Belize who visited the Holy See.
What did the first North American pope have to say to his colleagues in Jesuit higher education? Keep doing what you’re doing.
“Your institutions are called not only to teach your students about the injustices faced by those on the margins of society, but also to be powerful channels in promoting systemic change through proposing new models rooted in solidarity and the common good,” the Pope said.
He pointed to the Jesuit Universal Apostolic Preferences, established in 2019 as priorities for the order for the ensuing decade — showing the way to God, walking with the excluded, journeying with youth, and caring for our common home — as powerful tools for building a sense of hope and critical in the mission of forming leaders of character, curiosity and consequence who can positively impact the world during a period of great changes.
Pope Leo focused on the challenges that young people face today: the consequences of the continued digital revolution and development of artificial intelligence, concerns over climate change and humankind’s relationship to the natural world, and how to care for individuals around the world uprooted due to disasters both natural and manmade. He urged the institutions to inspire not only intellectual curiosity in understanding these forces, but action in finding their solutions. Pope Leo also invoked the core value of “finding God in all things,” reflecting that “those who conduct research, those who pursue studies, and those who seek the truth are ultimately seeking God, whether they realize it or not.”
In addition to his address to the group, Cassady said each president was able to talk one-on-one with Pope Leo. She said she asked him to bless the University’s collaboration with other apostolates, including the Ignatian Spirituality Center of Kansas City, which expands opportunities for those on campus and in the community to participate in the Spiritual Exercises and mission-aligned formation.
“Meeting Pope Leo was a deeply meaningful experience and a memorable honor,” she said. “His presence conveyed both humility and conviction, and our conversation underscored the enduring importance of education, service, and the pursuit of truth.”
The trip also included meetings with several leaders in the Society of Jesus (the Jesuits) — General Secretariat of the Synod, the Secretary of the Dicastery for Culture and Education, and Jesuit Superior General. Combined, Cassady said, the experiences reinforced the shared sense of purpose among leaders of Jesuit institutions and their role in the broader Catholic Church.
“As a university president, I was reminded that institutions of higher learning have a unique responsibility to cultivate intellectual curiosity, ethical leadership, and a commitment to the common good. Our exchange with the Holy Father and other leaders reinforced the value of dialogue across cultures, disciplines, and perspectives.
“Pope Leo's emphasis on human dignity, compassion, and hope resonated strongly with our university's mission to prepare students not only for professional success but also for lives of purpose and service,” Cassady said. “I left our meetings with a renewed appreciation for the transformative role that education can play in building stronger communities and addressing the complex challenges facing our world. It was a privilege to represent our University in this moment, and I am grateful for the opportunity to reflect on the shared values that unite educational and faith communities in the pursuit of a more just and compassionate future.”
