Pope Leo XIV has appointed Fr. Daniel Groody, vice president and associate provost for undergraduate education and professor of theology and global affairs at the University of Notre Dame, to be a member of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development. The appointment was announced by the Vatican on March 30.
Established by the late Pope Francis in 2017, the dicastery supports the Church’s global efforts related to human dignity, human rights, economic justice, care for creation, migration, displacement, peace and humanitarian crises.
Groody, in an interview, said he was “humbled and surprised and grateful” upon learning of the appointment, describing it as a continuation of decades of work focused on migration, refugees and global justice.
“As a dicastery member, the first role is really to listen, discern and advise how the Church can respond to the social issues of our time,” Groody said.
He will maintain his leadership roles at Notre Dame while serving as a member of the dicastery.
University President Fr. Robert Dowd highlighted how the appointment reflects Groody’s long-standing commitment to serving vulnerable populations and advancing Catholic social thought.
“To be called upon by the Holy See to serve in this capacity is a testament to Father Groody’s deep commitment to leadership in service of the most vulnerable among us,” Dowd stated in a press release.
Groody’s work has focused extensively on migration, theology and human displacement — areas closely aligned with the dicastery’s priorities. An internationally recognized scholar, he has authored, edited and produced multiple books and documentary films addressing migration and human dignity.
His most recent book, “A Theology of Migration: The Bodies of Refugees and the Body of Christ,” includes a foreword written by Pope Francis, who praised Groody’s attention to the experiences of migrants and refugees.
Holy Cross Brother Paul Bednarczyk, superior general of the Congregation of Holy Cross, said in an article published in Today’s Catholic, the newspaper serving the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend, that the appointment also highlights Groody’s contributions to integral ecology and advocacy for migrants.
“His ongoing commitment to integral ecology and the promotion of the dignity of immigrants has been recognized by the universal Church,” Bednarczyk said in the article. “Father Groody’s appointment honors not only his faithful service at the University of Notre Dame, but also his ongoing commitment to integral ecology and the promotion of the dignity of immigrants.”
Groody said the appointment also reflects Notre Dame’s broader mission as a global Catholic research university. He emphasized the importance of connecting academic work with the real-world needs of the Church throughout the world.
“I think the goal is to connect the research engine of Notre Dame with the needs of the global Church,” Groody said.
He added that the role may create new opportunities for students to engage with the Church around the globe through academic programs, research and international partnerships.
Groody’s appointment follows his 2025 appointment to the General Council of the Laudato Si’ Higher Education Center at Castel Gandolfo, now known as Borgo Laudato Si’, where he helps guide initiatives related to sustainability and integral ecology.
