2025, un Anno Santo carico di molte speranze

«Peace be with you all!». Pope Leo XIV inaugurated his pontificate with the words of the Risen Christ, bearer of «a disarmed peace, a disarming peace, humble and persevering». A peace conquered at a high price because it is the peace of the Good Shepherd «who gave His life for the flock of God».

During the first days of his pontificate, pope Leo XIV explained that he chose this name primarily in reference to Leo XIII, to his encyclical Rerum Novarum and to the great social issues of our time. I assure the new pontiff of our dedication to the service he offers to God and His Church.

Peace, social issues, artificial intelligence. There is a common thread tying these themes, which is hope, a legacy left by pope Francis that accompanies us during the celebration of the 2025 Jubilee. His sudden passing last April 21, 2025, Easter Monday, made us even more aware of his great gift, just a few months earlier, when he personally visited the Pontifical Gregorian University. This attention confirms the care and concern that pope Francis, the first Jesuit pontiff in the history of the Church, showed us throughout his pontificate.

We cannot forget how, less than one year after his election, in 2014, he chose to convene in the Paul VI Hall the gathered communities of the Pontifical Gregorian University, the Pontifical Biblical Institute and the Pontifical Oriental Institute. In that same hall, we were once again convened a few years later, together with the Rectors, faculty members, students, and staff of all the Pontifical Universities and Institutions in Rome.

The extensive and insightful speech he addressed to us last November can be found in the following pages. Meanwhile, the invitation extended to us ten years ago to foster collaboration and synergy has materialised in the definitive incorporation of the Pontifical Biblical Institute and the Pontifical Oriental Institute into the Gregorian University. I just want to highlight that in this latest speech, the word ‘heart’ appears no fewer than 20 times. «The university must become the home of the heart. Nurturing relationships requires a heart open to dialogue. The heart unites the fragments and with the hearts of others bridges of encounter are built».

On this same line, Leo XIV, addressing the Brothers of the Christian Schools last May 15, invited us to «explore ways, develop tools and adopt new languages to continue to touch the heart of pupils, helping them and spurring them on to face every obstacle with courage in order to give the best of themselves in life, according to God’s plans».

I wish for everyone that this Jubilee Year may be an opportunity for renewing relationships, and for creating new spaces for encounter, committing ourselves to be humble and persevering peacemakers.