Pope Leo XIV met with a delegation from the University of Notre Dame on Friday for the first time in his pontificate.
The University delegation included University President Fr. Robert Dowd, vice president for mission engagement and Church affairs Fr. Austin Collins, vice president and chief of staff Ann M. Firth, chair of the Board of Trustees John Veihmeyer and his wife Beth Veihmeyer.
The University made no public announcement of the visit in advance of the meeting. It announced on Monday that the audience had taken place three days prior.
Plans for the meeting with the first American pope had been in the works for months, however, Collins said in an interview with The Observer.
This is the first meeting between University officials and a pope since Feb. 1, 2024, when former University President Fr. John Jenkins and the Board of Trustees met with Pope Francis. Dowd was also in attendance for that 2024 audience and was president-elect of Notre Dame at the time. This time, a smaller group of Notre Dame officials met with Leo in a more private audience.
“This was the first meeting we were actually in his office,” Collins said.
According to Collins, Leo spent a significant portion of time discussing world affairs, including the war in Ukraine and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
“There’s no other organization like the Catholic Church. I hope the United Nations is someday, but you know, the Catholic Church serves the world. It’s a really global organization,” Collins said after mentioning Notre Dame’s work on issues of poverty and peace and the University’s mission to be a “force for good in the world.”
Collins added that the pope was quite familiar with the University and its work.
“He was a very gracious, humble man, very educated and knew a lot about Notre Dame and Notre Dame’s service to the Church,” he said.
The pope also had a specific message for the University.
“He was like, ‘Thank you for being Notre Dame and continuing being Notre Dame. Continue to do your mission, continue to be a Catholic University,’” Collins recounted. “I think that came across loud and clear that he appreciated all that was going on, and he knew that he could rely on Notre Dame for assistance.”
According to the University’s press release, Leo also “encouraged Notre Dame to continue its efforts to build bridges” and discussed the role Catholic universities like Notre Dame play in serving the Church.
Collins also said that the pope’s American roots give him greater insight into higher education in the United States and the unique challenges facing the country.
“He knows the polarization in this country, which I think he’s very concerned about,” he explained.
Collins also revealed that Leo previously visited Notre Dame on multiple occasions before becoming pope.
“I asked him directly, have you ever been to Notre Dame? He kind of looked at me and said, ‘I'm from the south side of Chicago. Of course. I went to games,’” he said.
Until that meeting, Collins said the University was unaware if Leo had ever visited campus.
Collins added the University has an open invitation to Leo should he wish to return.
“He is welcome at Notre Dame anytime,” he stated.
In its press release, Notre Dame said Dowd gave Leo a sculpture of St. John Henry Newman made by a Holy Cross priest, and Leo concluded the audience by giving a blessing “upon those gathered and upon all who are part of the Notre Dame family.”
Notre Dame leadership met with Vatican secretary of state cardinal Pietro Parolin to discuss the University’s involvement in sensitive regions of the world, including Jerusalem, China and Ukraine. The delegation also met with several Vatican dicasteries during the four-day visit to Rome, including the Dicastery for Integral Human Development, the Dicastery for Evangelization, the Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life and the Dicastery for Education and Culture.
Dowd also celebrated Mass at the Basilica of San Clemente for Notre Dame students studying abroad in Rome as part of the trip.
