Remembering Pope Francis and His Historic Visit to Saint Joseph’s University

Saint Joseph’s University mourns the loss of Pope Francis, who died on April 21, 2025. Pope Francis was the Catholic Church’s first Jesuit pope, who was inspired to join the Society of Jesus after recovering from a severe illness in 1958. He was elected pope in 2013 and made a historic visit to Saint Joseph’s University two years later.

During the Pontiff’s visit, he blessed the University’s newly dedicated sculpture, “Synagoga and Ecclesia in Our Time,” which calls for dialogue between the Church and all religions, but particularly those of Jewish faith.

”Pope Francis led the Church to an expanded commitment to engage in interreligious dialogue, defend the dignity of all persons and take action on climate change,” says Daniel R.J. Joyce, SJ, BA ’88, vice president of mission and ministry. “His simplicity of life and personal pastoral style made him one of the most effective world leaders.”

The pope had remained connected to Philadelphia’s only Jesuit university over the years. In 2023, he named undergraduate Julia Osęka, BS ’25, a voting delegate to the XVI Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops in Rome. This was the first time in the history of the Catholic Church that non-bishops had a voting status in a synod.

“Pope Francis is the pope of my generation. I remember watching his election as a primary schooler, reading his encyclical 'Christus Vivit,' which he dedicated to young people when I was in high school, and finally meeting him in person during the Synod on Synodality in 2023 and 2024,” says Osęka. “His revolutionary teaching, emphasizing the care for the excluded, the interreligious dialogue and integral development in all areas of life informed my own faith and helped me to find the hope in being a part of the Catholic community.”

The following year, the University committed to the pope’s Laudato Si’ sustainability initiative, through which the pope appealed, “Our selfishness, our indifference and our irresponsible lifestyles are threatening the future of our children. … Let’s take care of our Mother Earth. … We have the opportunity to prepare a better tomorrow for all.”

Though Pope Francis may no longer be with us, his work and legacy have only begun. As we remember the Holy Father, we look back at his surprise visit to Hawk Hill nearly 10 years ago.

Note: The following story originally ran on Sept. 27, 2015.

Pontiff Makes Historic Visit to Philadelphia‘s Jesuit University
Pope Francis made a stop at Saint Joseph’s University today, greeting campus officials, student and religious leaders, and blessing the newly dedicated sculpture, “Synagoga and Ecclesia in Our Time.”

Pope Francis made a stop at Saint Joseph’s University today, greeting campus officials, student and religious leaders, and visiting the newly dedicated statue, “Synagoga and Ecclesia in Our Time.” The bronze work by noted Philadelphia artist Joshua Koffman was installed Sept. 25 at the plaza in front of the Chapel of St. Joseph-Michael J. Smith, S.J., Memorial, commemorating the 50th anniversary of Nostra Aetate, the Vatican II document that transformed the relationship between the Catholic and Jewish faiths.

Saint Joseph’s, one of the nation’s 28 Jesuit universities and colleges, was the first collegiate institution in the United States to answer the document’s interfaith call by founding the Institute for Jewish-Catholic Relations (IJCR) in 1967. Nostra Aetate calls for dialogue with those of all religions, but particularly those of Jewish faith. Several area Jewish leaders were on hand to witness Pope Francis on campus and were acknowledged by His Holiness.

“Since his election, the Holy Father has inspired us in so many ways,” said Saint Joseph’s president Mark C. Reed, EdD. “His ministry and leadership style have been a topic of discussion and an example in our classrooms. He has reenergized and strengthened our student body in their Catholic faith. And he has reminded all of us of the power of humility and compassion.

“To have him actually set foot on our campus was unforgettable. This is a truly historic day for Saint Joseph’s University, Jesuit education across the country and the importance of interfaith relations.”

Dr. Reed was joined by student body president Nicholas Chingas, vice president Natalie Roche, Jesuit community rector Rev. Brendan Lally, S.J, and Edward W. Moneypenny ’64, chair of the Board of Trustees. Also greeting the Pontiff were co-directors of the IJCR Philip A. Cunningham, PhD, and Adam Gregerman, PhD, Rabbi Abraham Skorka of Buenos Aires, a longtime friend of Pope Francis and co-author with him of a best-selling book about their interfaith dialogues, and Rev. William G. Donovan ’81, liaison of the Archbishop of Philadelphia to the Pontifical Council for the Family.

The unscheduled stop was made by the Pontiff as he was en route from St. Charles Borromeo Seminary to downtown Philadelphia for the Papal Mass that was to conclude his historic U.S. visit and the World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia. The Saint Joseph’s campus straddles City Avenue, the road that leads directly to the Seminary. His Holiness passed through the University three times earlier in the weekend and was greeted by hundreds of students, faculty, staff and alumni.

“It is profoundly moving that Pope Francis came to Saint Joseph’s to visit ‘Synagoga and Ecclesia in Our Time’,” said Cunningham, who is also a professor of theology and a noted scholar in Jewish-Catholic relations. “In his relationship with Rabbi Skorka and his outreach to the global Jewish community, both Pope Francis and Saint Joseph’s Nostra Aetate memorial model the friendship that will sustain our new relationship with our Jewish brothers and sisters in the years to come.”

"The Pope's blessing of the sculpture is of enormous significance to the Jewish community," added Gregerman, who also serves as assistant professor of Jewish studies. "It underscores the importance to the Catholic Church of Jews and Catholics learning from one another in the years ahead."