What is special about the schools that Pope Leo XIV attended?

As the first American to become leader of the Catholic Church with more than 1.4 billion believers, the new Pope Leo XIV earned degrees in the US and Italy and was awarded an honorary doctorate nearly 10 years ago.

Pope Leo XIV makes his public debut

PHOTO: AFP

On the night of May 8 (Vietnam time), 133 cardinals attending the conclave at the Sistine Chapel (Vatican) officially elected a new pope. The person chosen was Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost (69 years old). He took the name Leo XIV, was the first pope from the United States and also the first pope from the Order of Saint Augustine (Augustine), according to Vatican News .

Educational Journey in the US

Pope Leo XIV was born on September 14, 1955 in Chicago, USA, to a French-Italian father, a Spanish mother, and two brothers. He attended the Augustinian Minor Seminary as a child, then earned a bachelor's degree in mathematics from Villanova University, USA in 1977. During this time, he also enrolled in philosophy classes.

Villanova University, founded in 1842, is one of two Catholic Augustinian universities in the United States. The school is founded on core values ​​of truth, unity, and charity, inspired by the teachings of St. Augustine. In 2014, the university awarded Pope Leo XIV, then ministering in Peru, an honoris causa in humanities.

Villanova University is ranked 58th in the 2025 US News & World Report Best National Universities rankings. As a privateinstitution , the school charges tuition and other fees of $67,776/year (VND 1.7 billion) at present.

Villanova University building in Pennsylvania, USA

VILLANOVA UNIVERSITY

"With the election of Pope Leo XIV today, I cannot help but reflect on what his Augustinian pontificate means to our university community and to the world . Known for his humility, gentleness, prudence and warmth, Pope Leo XIV's leadership provides an opportunity for us to reaffirm our commitment to our educational mission," Villanova University President Peter M. Donohue said in a statement.

In the same year he received his bachelor's degree, the new pope chose to join the Order of Saint Augustine (OSA), making his first vows in 1978 and his final vows in 1981. A year later, he received his master's degree in theology (MDiv) from the Catholic Theological Union (CTU, USA) and in the same year was ordained a Catholic priest, all before he was 27 years old.

Founded in 1968 by three religious orders in response to the Second Vatican Council, CTU is now one of the Catholic Church’s largest graduate schools of theology and ministry in North America. CTU is sponsored by 21 religious congregations and is known for its intercultural, interreligious, and ecumenical commitment, with more than 4,500 alumni serving in more than 60 countries, according to a May 8 release from the school.

“Pope Leo XIV embodies CTU’s mission of educating leaders who bear witness to Christ’s message of justice, love, and peace . His election brings great joy to the entire CTU community,” said CTU President Barbara Reid, adding that MDiv students learn about theology and ministry in both traditional and contemporary contexts.

Catholic Theological Union building in Chicago, USA

PHOTO: CATHOLIC THEOLOGICAL UNION

What was the subject of Pope Leo XIV's doctoral thesis?

Immediately after receiving his master's degree, the new Pope Leo XIV was sent to Rome, Italy, to continue his studies in canon law at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum). There, he received his licentiate degree (equivalent to a master's degree in the European education system and a two-year training, according to the school) in 1984, and then his doctorate in 1987.

Angelicum is a Dominican university with faculties of Theology, Philosophy, Canon Law and Social Sciences. It was founded as a Catholic university in the 13th century and has undergone several name changes since then. It now offers programs in Italian and English to students from around 100 different nationalities. One of its famous alumni is Pope John Paul II.

The title of the new Pope's doctoral thesis in canon law, then a priest named Robert Prevost, is "The Role of the Local Superior in the Order of St. Augustine," or "The Office and Authority of the Local Superior in the Order of St. Augustine," according to Index Theologicus, an international scientific directory for theology and religious studies that is freely accessible and is managed by two universities in Germany.

Inside the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome, Italy

PHOTO: ANGELICUM

Pope Leo XIV's doctoral dissertation is 167 pages long, and the commercial version of it is currently out of stock on some e-commerce platforms like Amazon. The dissertation examines the roles and responsibilities of leaders in local communities of the Augustinian Order. After receiving his doctorate, he also published several other independent studies, according to Index Theologicus.

In addition to his scholarly writings, the new Pope co-authored a book published in 2002 by the Augustinian Historical Institute at Villanova University, entitled "The Rule and Monastic Rules of the Order of St. Augustine." The book is a comprehensive handbook on the principles that govern the Augustinian community, providing insight into its history and related spiritual practices.

The new Pope is expected to celebrate Mass with the College of Cardinals on May 9, an event that will be broadcast live for the public to follow. On May 11, Pope Leo XIV will preside over the Regina Coeli prayer in St. Peter's Basilica. On May 12, he will have his first press conference.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/nhung-ngoi-truong-tan-giao-hoang-leo-xiv-tung-theo-hoc-co-gi-dac-biet-185250509132752058.htm