The investigation, which was initiated last fall at the request of University President Rev. Robert A. Dowd, C.S.C., and Board Chair John Veihmeyer, found instances of sexual abuse and a predatory pattern of behavior by Father King during his tenure at 91�Թ� in the 1980-1997 period and while teaching at Holy Cross College. The investigation also identified instances of sexual abuse by Rev. David Porterfield, C.S.C. The report includes recommendations for strengthening the University’s approach to preventing and responding to any future misconduct.

In a joint statement to the University community, Veihmeyer and Father Dowd expressed their sincere remorse to those who were harmed, apologized for what they have endured, and reaffirmed the University’s commitment to the safety and well-being of every person in the campus community.

“We are deeply disturbed by these findings and wish to extend our deepest apologies to the victims for what they endured,” the statement reads. “The conduct described in this report is antithetical to everything 91�Թ� stands for and to the dignity and respect owed to every member of this community.”

The University is taking immediate action based on the report’s findings, including:

• New Oversight Policy: Enacting a new policy governing the oversight and tracking of reports of sex-based misconduct or violence against students by any individuals who are in positions of trust at the University.
• Enhanced Information Sharing and Tracking: Establishing a new joint process with the Congregation of Holy Cross for sharing information about reports, received by either the University or the Congregation, of misconduct by priests and religious of the Congregation.
• Educational Programming: Reaffirming a robust commitment to reporting transparency, educational programs, and support systems for survivors. Expanding educational programming delivered to the community annually on sex-based misconduct and violence prevention, reporting, and response.
• Enhanced Reporting: Requiring regular reports to the Board of Trustees on the handling of all reports of sexual misconduct.

The full text of the Debevoise & Plimpton report is available here, and the complete statement from University leadership and information on available resources is below.

The full statement from Board Chair John Veihmeyer and President Rev. Robert A. Dowd, C.S.C., follows below:

Dear Members of the 91�Թ� community,

Last fall, at our request, the University’s Board of Trustees commissioned an external investigation of allegations that Rev. Thomas King, C.S.C., engaged in sexual misconduct and abuse while rector of Zahm Hall, where he served from 1980 to 1997. We write to share the findings of that investigation with you and the next steps the University will take in response, intended to support victims and uphold the sacred values that 91�Թ� strives to live by every day.

Reflecting the seriousness of this matter, the Board retained Helen Cantwell, a partner at the law firm of Debevoise & Plimpton LLP and a former prosecutor in a district attorney’s sex crimes unit, who has deep experience with investigations of this nature. She and her team have spent the past nine months conducting a thorough review of the allegations.

The investigation found that Fr. King committed sexual abuse and engaged in a pattern of predatory behavior both during his tenure as rector of Zahm Hall and while teaching at Holy Cross College. The report also describes other instances of sexual abuse, including those committed by another priest, Rev. David Porterfield, C.S.C. A copy of their full report can be found here.

We are deeply disturbed by these findings and wish to extend our deepest apologies to the victims for what they endured. The conduct described in this report is antithetical to everything 91�Թ� stands for and to the dignity and respect owed to every member of this community.

The investigation included over 100 interviews, and we are grateful to those survivors who had the courage to share their painful stories. We also thank those who provided supporting information.

The University is committed to supporting all who have been affected and assisting them in their healing. For that reason, we are announcing the creation of a Counseling Support Program for therapy and mental health services for former students who experienced sexual abuse or misconduct in the circumstances described in the report. A comprehensive set of Frequently Asked Questions describing the Program, the intake process, covered services, and privacy protections is available here.

We also want to reinforce our commitment to the safety and well-being of the current and future 91�Թ� community. The provides a comprehensive list of the University’s initiatives and resources aimed at sexual misconduct education, prevention, reporting, and response.

While the University has taken important steps over the past 25 years to strengthen our policies and practices, we must be tireless in our efforts to prevent, investigate, and respond to sexual abuse and misconduct. In light of the investigation’s findings, the University is taking the following additional steps with the full endorsement of the Board of Trustees:

• We have established a new policy governing the oversight and tracking of reports of sex-based misconduct or violence against students by any individuals who are in positions of trust at 91�Թ�. The policy provides for accountability to the Board of Trustees and University leadership on the management of such reports. This new policy will advance clear internal communication and appropriate documentation of any misconduct institution-wide.��
• As 91�Թ�'s founding order, the Congregation of Holy Cross is critical to the University's history and future, as are the many faithful and generous Holy Cross priests and brothers who have served and continue to serve the University. We are jointly committed to preventing the misconduct described in the report. Toward that end, the University and the Congregation of Holy Cross have formalized a new process for promptly sharing information about reports, received by either the University or Congregation, of misconduct by priests and religious of the Congregation who are or were employed at the University and the resolution of such reports. When a report concerns clergy of another religious organization, such as a diocese, religious order, or other religious group, the University will share appropriate information about the report with that other organization. These steps are in addition to the University’s commitment to notifying relevant law enforcement agencies of reported misconduct in accordance with the law.
• The University will expand the scope and frequency of educational programming delivered to the community annually on sex-based misconduct and violence prevention, reporting, and response, beginning in the 2026-2027 academic year.
• University leadership will provide an annual report to the Board of Trustees on the handling of any complaints the University received of sex-based misconduct or violence by a member of the 91�Թ� community against another member of this community, and on its educational programming associated with sex-based misconduct and violence prevention, reporting, and response.

As a community, we must confront our deep sorrow and pain and redouble our efforts to become the 91�Թ� we seek to be. We also acknowledge that our work on these efforts must be ongoing and evolving.

We know that hearing about these cases may be especially disturbing to members of this community who themselves may have been impacted by sexual misconduct. If you are a current student in need of support, please contact the University Counseling Center (UCC) at 574-631-7336 or you can utilize if you are out of state. If you are a faculty or staff member, please contact the Employee Assistance Program at 1-888-293-3740. You can also find a comprehensive list of resources, including confidential advocates and reporting options, at.

We want to assure you of 91�Թ�’s unwavering commitment to the dignity and flourishing of every person in our campus community. In the coming weeks, Campus Ministry and the Office of the President will host opportunities for prayer and communal reflection, seeking healing for survivors and the grace to move forward together. We ask for your continued prayers for those who have suffered, for their families, and for our University, that we may always be a place of light and truth.

In 91�Թ�,

Rev. Robert A. Dowd, C.S.C.

President, University of 91�Թ�

��

John Veihmeyer

Chair, University of 91�Թ� Board of Trustees

About the University of 91�Թ�: The University of 91�Թ� is a private Catholic research university located adjacent to South Bend, Indiana. Founded in 1842 by Rev. Edward Sorin, C.S.C., it is consistently ranked among the nation’s leading institutions of higher learning.

The encyclical was officially signed on May 15, the 135th anniversary of Pope Leo XIII’s encyclical responding to the industrial revolution, Rerum novarum.

Below, University of 91�Թ� faculty experts from the College of Arts and Letters, College of Engineering, Keough School of Global Affairs and Law School offer their insights into the document.

Rev. Daniel Groody, C.S.C.

Rev. Daniel Groody, C.S.C., serves as vice president and associate provost for undergraduate education and professor of theology and global affairs. In addition to his role at 91�Թ�, Father Groody is a member of the Vatican’s Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development and plays a key role in 91�Թ�’s partnership with the Vatican’s Laudato Si’ Center on issues of integral ecology and global sustainability. His research focuses primarily on migration, theology, refugees and human displacement.

“Pope Leo’s Magnifica humanitas calls us to continually discern what it means to be human before God in a world increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence,” Father Groody said. “While this new digital age offers unprecedented possibilities for development, it simultaneously demands that we rediscover the true contours of our humanity. This authentic identity — rooted in an interior life, a moral conscience, human connections and a transcendent relationship to divine love — can never be quantified, modeled or replicated by machine learning. Against the technocratic impulse to reduce the human person to a mere data point, the encyclical boldly reasserts that we cannot be measured solely by technological acceleration but by holistic human development, human dignity and our commitment to the common good.

“Alongside new innovations, artificial intelligence reveals ancient temptations of radical self-sufficiency and idolatry. Warning against the modern temptation to construct a digital Tower of Babel in the pursuit of technological mastery, Pope Leo calls us instead to channel our energies into building the Kingdom of God and animating a ‘Civilization of Love.’ This sacred task requires an unwavering willingness to denounce the false forms of power that isolate us in algorithmic silos and blind us to our neighbors. In their place, Magnifica humanitas proposes a vision of life firmly anchored in justice, ultimately steering humanity toward the right ordering of our relationships with one another, with technology and with the Creator.”

Paolo Carozza

91�Թ� Law School professor Paolo Carozza is a member of the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences and also the chair of the Meta Oversight Board. Both his research and policy work are focused on the intersection of Catholic social thought and technology, especially social media and AI.

“I am convinced that this will prove to be a defining document for our era, a profound and prophetic document,” Carozza said. “It is not just for Catholics, but speaks to the concerns of all of humanity.

“We are living in a time of daily dramatic transformations in every aspect of our lives because of AI, where the very understanding of what it means to be human is being called into question. This is coupled with a real vacuum of moral leadership on the global stage. In that context, Pope Leo is offering a clear, comprehensive and coherent voice urging us to take responsibility for constructing a world in which technology will serve humans rather than degrade them.

“From here on, I don’t think anyone will be able to speak meaningfully about the future of humanity in the age of AI without coming to terms with this document and taking it seriously. While it is very direct about the many dangers already arising out of algorithmic technologies, it is decidedly not an anti-technology document. The real question is not whether AI is good or bad, but whether the ways we develop and deploy the technology help individuals and communities become more humane, just and participatory, or whether instead they foster exclusion, control and inequality.

“The overarching core message is that if we are to preserve our humanity, we must not allow people to be reduced to mere data and commodities to be instrumentalized and exploited. It is a very hopeful document, not a doomsaying one. Pope Leo insists that moral progress here is possible, and the negative consequences of AI technologies are far from inevitable.”

Meghan Sullivan

Meghan Sullivan is the Wilsey Family College Professor of Philosophy and director of the 91�Թ� Institute for Ethics and the Common Good. She leads a national research and public engagement initiative on AI and human dignity and meets regularly with tech leaders and AI developers in Silicon Valley. In March, Sullivan attended an Anthropic summit to discuss how to guide the moral development of the corporation’s chatbot, Claude.

“Magnifica humanitas is one of the most compelling and comprehensive treatments of AI ethics I have ever read — and I say that as someone who has spent the past few years immersed in this literature from both philosophical and policy perspectives,” Sullivan said. “Pope Leo XIV grounds AI ethics in the Church’s long-standing social doctrine, which has consistently offered a profound vision of human dignity.

“Christian tradition has never grounded human dignity in cognitive performance or economic productivity. It has never said: You matter because of what you can do. It says: You matter because of who you are. Someone with a body, mind and soul. Someone built for love. Someone with a mind oriented toward truth, accountable for our choices. We’re vulnerable in a way that these AI models are not. And Pope Leo argues that this special belovedness — made in God’s own image — makes us magnificent.

“What strikes me most is how practical this document is. It gives concrete guidance to corporate leaders, to policymakers, to educators, to everyday people navigating this technology. For those of us at 91�Թ�, the pope’s charge to educational institutions is especially urgent. He argues that schools must resist the pressure to simply accelerate alongside the digital world and instead become irreplaceable centers of human formation — places where knowledge is integrated, where real relationships are built, where students discover the meaning of human dignity.

“This is exactly the work that 91�Թ�’s DELTA network exists to do. With a generous $50.8 million grant from Lilly Endowment Inc., we are going to put this teaching on human dignity and AI into action — across K-12 schools, universities, churches and the public square. Today’s encyclical gives us both the theological framework and the moral insight we need. 91�Թ� is ready to help the Church and the world answer Pope Leo’s call.”

Nitesh Chawla

Nitesh Chawla, an expert in artificial intelligence, data science and network science, is the Frank M. Freimann Professor of Computer Science and Engineering, director of the Lucy Family Institute for Data & Society and the Lucy Family Director for Data & AI Academic Strategy, leading the 91�Թ� Data, AI and Computing Initiative. He uses advancements in AI, data science and network science to pursue common good through interdisciplinary research by collaborating with community and national partners.

“Magnifica humanitas makes clear that AI cannot be treated as morally neutral,” Chawla said. “Because these systems embody choices about what they measure, ignore and optimize and how they classify people and situations, they must be transparent, accountable and subject to meaningful evaluation.

“That is the work of Responsible, Inclusive, Safe and Empowering AI — RISE AI — at 91�Թ�. Anchored in the Lucy Family Institute for Data & Society, RISE AI asks four practical questions: Who answers for an AI system across its lifecycle? Who is represented and served? Who is protected from harm? Who gains or loses agency? AI governance claims are only as good as the evidence chain that connects them to what the system does. RISE AI builds that chain. That chain runs through audit logs, red-teaming, subgroup performance, accessibility, redress and user-agency measures that show what a system actually does and where its limits are.

“The encyclical’s most important insistence is that moral and technical questions cannot be separated; they meet in how systems are evaluated, audited, deployed, made contestable and governed. As paragraph 109 puts it, social justice must ‘shape the very design’ of these systems from the outset, not be retrofitted after deployment. That means building AI that is not only powerful but legible, accountable and directed toward integral human development and the common good — making responsibility measurable, inclusion visible, safety testable and empowerment real.

“A�� Magnifica humanitas insists, responsibility must be ‘clearly defined at every stage.’”

Kathleen Sprows Cummings

Kathleen Sprows Cummings is a professor of American studies and history and director of the Global Catholic Research Initiative. A papal analyst for NBC/MSNBC, she offered expert commentary during the 2014 canonization of Popes John Paul II and John XXIII, Pope Francis’ U.S. visit in 2015, Pope Francis’ funeral in 2025 and the conclave that elected Pope Leo XIV.

“‘Age gives way to age,’ wrote Pope Leo XIII in Rerum novarum, ‘but the events of one century are wonderfully like those of another, for they are directed by the Providence of God.’ In Magnifica humanitas, an encyclical dated exactly 135 years after Rerum novarum, Pope Leo XIV also invokes God’s invisible work in history,” Cummings said. “And, like his namesake, he considers the central challenge of the age — in this case, the advent of artificial intelligence — in light of the Church’s timeless principles.

“More humble in tone than Rerum novarum, Magnifica humanitas is a far more capacious document that operates on several levels at once: an explanation of Catholic social teaching as it has developed since Rerum novarum; an affirmation of the intrinsic, God-given value of each person, which is not tied to what they achieve or produce; a rumination on the wonder and limitations of being human; a meditation on history, including an unflinching acknowledgement of the Church’s complicity in its darker moments; and an invitation to individuals and institutions to think creatively and collaboratively about how to ‘disarm’ new technologies and harness them for good.

���� his powerful conclusion, Pope Leo entrusts this endeavor to Mary, quoting from the Magnificat, her revolutionary ‘song of hope’ which glorifies the God who delivers the humble and oppressed, dislodges the privileged from their positions of power, and continues to make all things new in this and in every age. In that sense, Magnifica humanitas ultimately offers consolation to a world in desperate need of it.”

Arun Agrawal

Arun Agrawal, the Pulte Family Professor of Development Policy and director of the Just Transformations to Sustainability Initiative, studies environmental politics, sustainable development and transformative change. He has spent time with Catholic leaders discussing ways to care for our common home globally and across all disciplines and can address how AI technology is impacting the environment.

“The words ‘common good’ appear in Pope Leo’s encyclical, Magnifica humanitas, more often than the words ‘artificial intelligence’ or ‘AI,’ more often than ‘church,’ and more often than ‘religion,’” Agrawal said. ���� its mention of the common good, the encyclical resonates with Pope Francis’ call for care for our common home. This continuity and this focus on the common — on the community of which we are all a part — is a characteristic feature of what it means to be human, to be part of the interconnectedness of all creation.

“Fundamentally, the encyclical is a call to heed and act for the common good. It is a call to move away from the kind of politics that advances only the fortune and interests of a select few. Increasingly, our politics pushes to the side the grandeur of humanity and promotes markets that profit the elite instead of supporting the common good.

“It prophetically recognizes that the ‘invisible hand’ of the market is in fact about the visible hand of politics that helps the marriage of finance and technology. It instead asks for our politics that would direct technology and finance and artificial intelligence to support the common good so as to achieve the grandeur of humanity. It is only by attending to this call that we have any hope of maintaining the dignity of the whole person.”

Additional 91�Թ� experts on the AI encyclical and a statement from University President Rev. Robert A. Dowd, C.S.C., are available.

Contact: Carrie Gates, associate director of media relations, 574-993-9220, c.gates@nd.edu

“Signing this encyclical on the 135th anniversary of Rerum Novarum, Pope Leo XIII’s historic letter on the rights of workers, is a deliberate choice. Just as Leo XIII addressed the disorientation of the industrial revolution, Leo XIV calls us to moral clarity and solidarity in the midst of this latest societal transformation, underscoring the urgency of the questions humankind faces.

“At 91�Թ�, our mission as a global Catholic research university compels us to advance Pope Leo XIV’s historic contribution to Catholic social tradition through our research, our teaching, and all of our work in service of the common good. The Holy Father has highlighted the critical role that Catholic scholars and researchers — and all those of goodwill — must play in raising moral questions and actively shaping new technologies to ensure they serve the entire human family.”

(Remarks as prepared)

Let us pause and place ourselves in the presence of God.

Lord of all creation, You who breathed life into the world and who continue to renew the earth through Your Spirit, pour out that same Spirit upon these graduates today. As You once stirred the hearts of the apostles, kindle in them courage, wisdom, and a deep desire to serve the common good.

Bless their minds, that they may seek truth with humility.

Bless their hearts, that they may love generously and act with compassion.

Bless their hands, that they may build a world marked by justice, mercy, and peace.

As they leave this lovely campus they have called home, remind them that they never journey alone. Walk beside them in moments of uncertainty; strengthen them in times of challenge; rejoice with them in moments of triumph.

We entrust them to the care of 91�Թ�, our Mother, whose steadfast faith and maternal love guide this university. May she watch over them, protect them, and lead them always closer to her Son.

Send them forth as bearers of light where there is darkness, hope where there is despair, and unity where there is division. May their lives reflect the values they have learned here – a commitment to truth, a heart for service, and a faith that seeks understanding.

And may the blessing of Almighty God —

the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit —

come upon you and remain with you forever.

Amen.

(Remarks as prepared)

Graduates, there is one more group we must recognize today, without whom this celebration would not be possible: your parents, your families, and your loved ones.

So I ask you to please turn and join me in applauding all those who helped you get to this day.

We have heard great speeches today — and I do not have much more to add.

But as we close this ceremony (this chapter in your 91�Թ� story), and as is tradition, allow me to offer you this: Never forget that your charge as a 91�Թ� graduate is to be a force for good in the world.

And as you go out into the world, to build your careers and communities and deepen your awareness of God’s mysterious presence and action in your lives, I hope you will rely on the moral, intellectual, and ethical foundation you’ve cultivated here, and that throughout your lives, you will walk alongside the friends that you’ve made here.

Back in the fall, a number of us had the opportunity to meet with Pope Leo XIV.

One thing that struck me about Pope Leo is that he is humble, he is a superb listener and, as we have all recognized in his first year as pope, he is not afraid to proclaim the Gospel.

His example reminds us that humility combined with courage and grounded in love is a powerful force.

As members of the 91�Թ� community, we are called to have a healthy sense of humility, to be courageous, and to ground our lives in love.

Having a healthy sense of humility means we recognize we do not have all the answers and we need each other in the search for truth.

It means we spend as much time and energy respectfully listening as we do speaking and espousing our own points of view.

Being courageous means that, even as we realize we do not have all the answers, we are not afraid to take a stand, especially in order to defend and promote respect for human dignity.

It means we do not run away from the pain, suffering, and injustice in the world, but that we run toward it in order to understand it and, to the extent we are able, address it.

Being grounded in love means that we always strive to let charity rule our lives in both word and deed.

It means refusing to be ruled by selfish interest and hatred.

So, I encourage you:

BE HUMBLE.

BE COURAGEOUS.

GROUND YOUR LIVES IN LOVE.

If you do so, you will certainly be a powerful force for good.

There are many challenges in our world today. There is too much violence and war, too much arrogance and bluster, too much suffering and injustice.

We know many people find it difficult to hope. But there is reason to hope.

When I look out at you all, I certainly find reason to hope. Because I know that, with all that you have learned here, you will take seriously the call to be a force for good; to be the humble, courageous, and compassionate leaders the world needs.

Class of 2026, as you go forth from here, be assured of our gratitude for you, and be assured of our prayers for you. I hope you will come back to 91�Թ� often, because it is and always will be your home.

Congratulations! God bless you!

And Go Irish!

(Remarks as prepared)

Sir,

From your earliest days, you have embodied what it means to truly see and honor the dignity in every human being.

Growing up, you were witness to the founding of Special Olympics by your mother, Eunice Kennedy Shriver, and the devotion to public service embodied by your father, Robert Sargent Shriver—experiences that profoundly shaped your perspective. You have said that both of your parents instilled in you an orientation to difference that saw it not as a liability or a weakness to be overcome, but rather a cause for celebration.

Drawing on your family’s powerful example and your own abiding faith, you have dedicated your life to championing human dignity as an educator, activist, author, and visionary leader.

Having earned a bachelor’s from Yale, a master’s in religion and religious education from The Catholic University of America, and a doctorate in education from the University of Connecticut, you began your career as a teacher, spending fourteen years in the classroom. Rooted in your commitment to holistic formation and inclusion, you became an avid proponent of education that develops the whole child. In co-founding the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning, you pioneered a movement that would reshape classrooms worldwide.

At the helm of Special Olympics, you have served as a tireless advocate for those with intellectual disabilities, who are too often isolated and marginalized. Thanks to your efforts over the last three decades, the organization has grown into a global movement that serves more than four million athletes in more than 200 countries and territories around the world, with programming in sports, health, education, and inclusive leadership. Special Olympics changes lives—not just those of the athletes, but also those of their families, friends, and communities—truly a “peaceful revolution of inclusion.” The Special Olympics athlete oath, which your mother coined and you have made famous, inspires us all: “Let me win. But if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt.”

Most recently, you have sought to ameliorate the political polarization in our country by bridging political divides and promoting respectful dialogue across differences. As co-founder of UNITE and co-creator of the Dignity Index, you continue to inspire those around you to build bridges, recognizing the God-given dignity in all people. You remind us that we have a choice in every interaction: we can use our words to push people away, or we can use them to pull people together. As you say, it’s not about changing what we believe; it’s about changing how we treat each other.

In celebration of your lifelong commitment to the most vulnerable among us, your servant leadership, and your steadfast faith, the University of 91�Թ� rejoices to confer its highest honor, the Laetare Medal,

On

Timothy P. Shriver

Chevy Chase, Maryland

(Remarks as prepared)

Board Chair Veihmeyer, Father Dowd, Faculty, Members of the Board, Parents, Graduates — my two favorite candidates for the next Laetare medal, my sister Maria and my wife Linda — and all members of the 91�Թ� Family: I’m deeply indebted to you for this honor. But my debt to 91�Թ� is even bigger than you think. Let me explain!

Seventy-five years ago, Eunice Kennedy, who was not yet my mother, was summoned here to 91�Թ� by its new President, Fr. Hesburgh.

She believed she had a vocation to become a nun. But her dad, Joe Kennedy, wanted her to marry her boyfriend, a guy named Sargent Shriver, who had asked for her hand in marriage.

So Joe Kennedy made an appeal to Ted Hesburgh, who had known my mother and father for a number of years. “Father Ted,” he said. “Eunice won’t listen to me on this. But she will listen to you. Please talk to her.”

Fr. Ted told my mother that she did indeed have a vocation. But her vocation was to marry my father and keep doing the work of the Church as a lay Catholic and a leader of her family. Shortly after her talk with Fr. Ted, just after Mass on a Sunday morning, my mother asked my father to join her at a side altar and accepted his offer of marriage.

So for the many of you here who believe that in one way or another you owe your life to 91�Թ�. Believe me. I get it!

This morning, I want to thank the heroes whose love and guidance have led me to this day. My prayer is that I can be a worthy channel for their grace.

My heroes began coming to me in waves when I graduated from college and became a high school teacher in New Haven Connecticut. I spent 14 years there being tutored by the teenagers I was supposed to teach.

I tried to teach them social studies. They tried to teach me how difficult it is to thrive in poverty.

I tried to teach them to be successful. They tried to teach me that success requires people who believe in you.

And that became my calling.

One student of mine, Jennie, was 14 years old when we met. She heard every day from people that she was a nobody. She couldn’t imagine being a person who mattered. I decided to pay a visit to her home to find out how I could support her and her mom. And she told me years later, “That day you visited my house, you poured a little self-worth into me. That’s all it took to change my life.”

Actually, it was God who poured the self-worth into Jennie. I just saw it — and did my best to honor it. And she did the same for me. She believed in me — and I can never repay her for the goodness that her faith in me brought out of me.

A few years later, I left New Haven to lead Special Olympics — which is simply a global witness to the truth that every human being is a sacred creation, with inherent dignity, made in the image and likeness of God — and should be treated that way.

The precious occasions when we can gather and see this truth together are moments of lasting grace. Let me tell you about one.

In 2003, the Special Olympics World Games took place in Ireland. They were the first games where athletes with the most severe disabilities were offered a chance to participate. Personally, I wasn’t sure how people would react. I wondered if anyone was going to show up, and I worried that the athlete’s limitations might leave everyone feeling sad. Then I learned that the President of Ireland, Mary McAleese, would attend and would be seated next to me as my guest.

By the time President McAleese arrived, the parking lot in Dublin was jammed and the hall was packed. Credit the Irish for showing up. The games were on!

Donal Page from County Galway was announced onto the stage to perform the “grasp and release”. Donal suffered an illness just after birth that left him unable to speak or walk. He was helped to the stage in his wheelchair and was positioned near a table with a bean bag on it. His challenge was to reach out, grab the bean bag, lift it, and move it to the end of the table.

The crowd was excited, a voice shouted “Start” … and nothing happened; Donal was still — and the arena was silent — for a full minute. Then Donal’s hand started moving toward the bean bag, and one fan in the crowd shouted “Come on lad. Let’s see it!” And that sent a shiver of excitement through the hall. Then, slowly, after a span of five minutes, Donal’s hand reached the bean bag, and another voice shouted “There you go, lad! Now grab it!”

Donal willed his hand to grasp the bean bag, and the crowd exploded in cheers. Then, over another five minutes — as we were standing, cheering, shouting, yelling, laughing, stomping and crying — Donal moved the beanbag to the end of the table, set it down…. and unleashed bedlam.

I’ve never experienced anything like it before or since — and I realize now why there was such joyous madness in the hall. We were on the home field of the Fighting Irish!! And on that field, on that day, all of us were fighting for one of us. There was no foe, no enemy, no villain. We were a mass of humanity rooting for humanity. And humanity won — because humanity was one.

My teachers, you see, never asked me for pity or condescension. They asked that I see their dignity. They want what you want and what I want: they want to matter. So today I accept this award with a challenge from them. Let’s all commit to wake up to the dignity, to the inherent worth, in each one of us — in every community, in every culture, in every country, all over the world.

We can do this! Yes, there are obstacles. Many will tell you the world is too broken to repair; that we’re too different, that it’s too difficult to get along. And it’s true that we’re facing deep polarization today. But our polarization is nothing but a mark of how we are treating each other. And we can change! No matter how far apart we’ve grown – honoring each other’s dignity can bring us back together.

The power of honoring human dignity is more than a belief. It is a spiritual practice.

Thomas Merton saw the radiant dignity inside each of us:

“At the center of our being” he wrote, “ is a point of … pure truth, a … spark which … is the pure glory of God in us…. It is in everybody, and if we could see it …. It would make all the darkness and cruelty of life vanish completely.”

And yes, darkness and cruelty will come. From my earliest memories, when tragedies shook my family, my parents taught us a spiritual practice: the prayers of the rosary. We went to Our Lady. We hoped to experience Mary’s great Yes – which opened the way for God to enter the world.

Over the years, I have continued to hold fast to those rosary beads. Because we all have our own Yes. And I try, however failingly, to say my “yes” too. To say yes, as she did, to the presence of God within; to say Yes, as she did, to opening the way for God to enter the world.

If that sounds mystical, it is! So be a mystic! Allow grace to remove any obstacle that separates you from the presence of God within -- so that grace can also remove any obstacle that separates you from the presence of God in others. Because in the eyes of God, there ARE no “least of these, no ‘them and us.” There is no less of God in any of us.

The only difference is in our ability to say yes.

This ability to say yes is the core of the spiritual movement now sweeping the world, a movement we are all now called to join — a movement to say Yes to dignity as the standard for how we treat each other – in our families, in our schools, in our faith and in our work.

This is both an ancient call …. and the most urgent call of our times.

In answering the call, 91�Թ� graduates, you have an extravagant advantage. You have been schooled here — on this campus, in this special place – and your university was blessed for this calling even before Father Sorin baked the first brick to build 91�Թ�.

So as you leave this home field of the Fighting Irish to launch the next chapter of your lives

What would you fight for?

What were you born to fight for?

I pray you will fight to honor the inherent dignity in every human being — and renew the face of the earth.

GO IRISH!

(Remarks as prepared)

First, I would like to thank Father Robert A. Dowd, the President of the University of 91�Թ�, and the members of his Leadership Council for their kind invitation. I would also like to thank the Chair and Board of Trustees.

Warm greetings also to my fellow distinguished honorees, the 91�Թ� faculty and staff, alumni, students, parents, and families of the graduates — especially the Class of 2026 graduates. It is a great honor and privilege to be here with you today to celebrate this significant milestone in your lives.

Class of 2026, your time at 91�Թ� here on this beautiful campus has prepared you well to embrace the future with hope, in the spirit of the founders and under the protection of Mary, Mother of the Church. Your families have supported you in attaining an excellent education, and now you are called to share your gifts.

The world that opens up before you undoubtedly presents a very difficult setting. Many are the “dark clouds” that loom over it. Hope, however, has the power to penetrate these “dark clouds” with its light: “Hope does not disappoint” (Rom 5:5).

At the beginning of the Jubilee Year 2025, Pope Francis stated that “everyone knows what it is to hope. In the heart of each person, hope dwells as the desire and expectation of good things to come, despite our not knowing what the future may bring.” At the end, in his General Audience of December 20, 2025, Pope Leo XIV very clearly affirmed that the hope of the Jubilee Year does not vanish; we must continue to be pilgrims of hope. To hope in life means “to believe as certain what we still cannot see or touch, to trust and to entrust ourselves to the love of a Father who created us because he wanted us with love and wants us to be happy.” Christians are always called to communicate hope.

And how do we do that?

Hope is generative, Pope Leo says: it gives us times of birth and rebirth; it offers all of you – here and now — a time of a ‘new beginning.' Strengthened by your interdisciplinary knowledge, soft and hard skills, personal growth, you are now ready to receive whatever God has in store for you, in his infinite creativity, with joy and confidence.

This ‘new beginning’ is an opportunity to put into practice what you have learned. In whatever you do next, your actions must reflect a deep sense of reverence for the sacredness and dignity of the human person.

Hope is active. You will be witnesses of hope if you nurture a genuine desire to alleviate the poverty, injustice and oppression that burden the lives of so many in material and immaterial forms. In this way, what you achieved here on campus will rightly serve the virtue of justice.

You will be witnesses of hope, if wherever you are, you strive to create a sense of human solidarity that counteracts selfish competition and cures the “virus of individualism,” because the primary concern that drives you is the common good. Then your actions will be guided by the desire to heal what is broken, to forgive who has fallen, to create safe spaces for mutual sharing, where human fragility is embraced.

Hope is collaborative. You will be people of hope, if centered in Christ, the Principle of Communion, you embark on your “new beginning,” driven by a sincere desire to build “bridges”: bridges between humanity and God, bridges between those you meet, bridges between those who are the main players and those who are left behind, bridges between cultures, languages and personal histories, and bridges between individuals and generations.

You will be people of hope if you commit yourselves to building networks of relationships, because, as Pope Leo reminded us, “human relationships, our relationships with other people, are indispensable for each of us ... Our life begins thanks to a bond, and it is through bonds that we grow.” You will be people of hope if you commit yourselves to building community and fostering relationships of mutual trust in your social and professional lives. You will be people of hope, if you pledge to cultivate the “social friendship” that is the true foundation of peace.

You will cultivate hope if you keep nurturing personal friendships, including those you began here on campus. Through these friendships, you have grown and have been supported. You have shared hard work, challenges, expectations and desires. These types of friendships must go beyond quick text messages, reels and chats, because “the process of building fraternity, be it local or universal, can only be undertaken by spirits that are free and open to authentic encounters.”

Hope is participatory and engaging. “God involves us in his history," Pope Leo reminds us that God involves us “in his dreams.” Pilgrims of hope are patient. They are people “who walk and who wait," but not with their hands in their pockets. Sometimes they keep vigil in the night, and sometimes they know how to “shake down the thunder from the sky.” They are “fighters” for hope. They want to make a difference. They change the world right there where they live and work. They choose the common good every day, even if it means sacrificing a little security and tranquility. They dedicate their talents to something greater than themselves, because they aspire to higher ideals.

They are ready to serve and rarely complain about what goes wrong because they take things one step at a time and hold a wider horizon firmly in front of them. They keep a smile on their faces because deep down, they know it is a sign of God’s grace.

They each do their part, but they prefer to do it together, because they never walk on the road of life alone. Their path is always intertwined with others. They are made to walk together and to discover a common goal. In this way, they participate in God’s life and cooperate with Him. They know that they are not self-sufficient, but they are open to receiving help, because they know that the measure of their humanity is not defined by what they can gain, but rather by their ability to let themselves be loved.

Dear 91�Թ� graduates, as you celebrate the joyful conclusion of an important chapter in your studies, I extend my heartfelt congratulations to you and your families. I now invite you to become leaders of hope. Your credibility will be the foundation of your leadership, based on the consistency between your words and your actions.

Remember Pope Leo’s message: ultimately it is only love that can grant consistency and stability to your life. First and foremost, it is the fundamental, personal experience of God’s love and then, by extension, the sacred experience of mutual love and human fraternity that compel us toward self-giving.

I urge you not to be afraid of taking risks, because Christians must fully engage with life and the history of humanity. They can overcome sloth and indifference with bravery. They are willing to seek the good and look to the future knowing that our best days are always yet to come. “Fighters” for hope are willing to work through their strengths and weaknesses to make this happen.

Dear Class of 2026,

Now is the time for you to dream, make choices and set priorities. Continue to search for more. I pray that you will “march on” and contribute to the common good, that you will move forward “strong of heart” and remain “true” to your faith, with kindness and courage. May you take responsibility for others with loyalty and integrity, and be our hope!

Thank you and God bless you all.

(Remarks as prepared)

Distinguished guests, faculty, staff, friends, family, and above all, fellow classmates, welcome! What a joy it is to be with you today. I’d like to start by saying thank you. To our friends and family, for laughing, crying, and rejoicing alongside us. To our professors, for teaching us, challenging us, and pretending not to notice when we fell asleep in class. To our priests, rectors, and mentors, who stood by our side in our hardest moments. To our university staff, like Maria, who always greeted us at North Dining Hall, or Cory, who always asked about our weekend as he cleaned the halls of Fisher. Thank you for making 91�Թ� our home. And finally, to my classmates: we made it.

Finding our way to this university was a unique journey for each one of us. For me, that journey was a little unconventional. Growing up as the son of two Argentinian immigrants, I had never heard about 91�Թ�. Once I was admitted, I learned all sorts of things: I learned that 91�Թ� is not in Louisiana. I learned that 91�Թ� had a football team. I also learned that this team is rather good. This news has not yet reached the College Football Playoff Committee. Whatever path we took to arrive here, we left behind the familiar and stepped into an experience full of unknowns.

The same was true of Fr. Sorin. He left behind his home in France, and first set foot on these grounds in 1842. Like us, he didn’t know what lay before him. He arrived in the middle of a cold winter, welcomed by two frozen lakes. As he gazed upon this frigid landscape, he wrote: “Everything was frozen, and yet it all appeared so beautiful.” He knew that he had no money and no students. But despite this, he stood in the snow and found the courage to build something that would radiate warmth in this cold world.

This past January, my friend Wes and I saw an opportunity to build something of our own. After finishing class for the afternoon, we went around our dorm, collecting recycling bins. Once we had enough, we took them out onto the quad and began filling them with snow. We didn’t have any plans or calculations. We just used the materials we could find: water from our dorm showers, two bunk bed ladders, and a car hood. As the days went by, a small chapel began to rise out of the snow. First the columns, then the roof, and finally the details. On their way to and from the dorm, our classmates chipped in. They helped to shovel snow, compact bricks, and lay the arches. Together, amidst the cold, we built something sacred.

Six days later, on a frigid Monday night, we came together for mass. Students, staff, members of the South Bend community. In 19-degree weather, we huddled around this chapel made of ice. In this moment, we discovered that we had built more than just a structure. Together, we had built a community. In the gathering of these individuals, so different from one another, our hearts radiated warmth. A sacred warmth.

Every one of us has built something during our time at 91�Թ�. We built robots with physics and math, built essays out of stories, and built boats for the Fisher Regatta with supplies we found in a dumpster. Whether in internships or classrooms, in our dorms or on the quad, we all came to create something, just like Fr. Sorin. What did he see in that frozen landscape? He saw you and he saw me. He saw researchers fighting to end disease, he saw students tutoring at a local middle school, he saw members of a choir sharing their gifts, and he saw neighbors cracking jokes in a dorm hallway. Over these last four years, at every turn, we cultivated warmth for others.

This is the very kind of warmth our world so desperately needs. A world paralyzed by the cold of indifference, a world comfortable with looking the other way. I know that I’ve felt this cold within myself, and I bet you have, too. I think of all the times I’ve been walking down a street, focused on my destination, when I come across a man sitting on the curb. I immediately become uncomfortable. I start fidgeting. I glance in the other direction. I pretend he isn’t there. I’m afraid to look at his fragile humanity for fear that he will see mine.

This is the cold of the world we inhabit. We can’t escape it. So, what is there left to do? The only thing we can: build inside it. When we stop seeing the cold as a threat and start seeing it as an opportunity, we begin to create sacred spaces of encounter. In a speech like this, I’m supposed to say how we will change the world as lawyers, CEOs, doctors, or teachers. And we will. But our time at 91�Թ� has helped me realize that before we are any of those things, we are something else first: a brother, a sister. The change we wish to see occurs by radiating warmth, one person at a time. Sometimes, it’s as simple as a smile or a hug.

Every summer, I spent a couple of months in Buenos Aires, at a community center in one of the poorest neighborhoods of the city. Working there, I had the privilege of growing close to people who bear unimaginable wounds: addiction, abuse, hunger. In this place, so full of brokenness and grace, pain and laughter, I found a family. One night, on a retreat we had planned for the high schoolers in the neighborhood, we walked to a small chapel. As the young people lined up outside, a loved one waited inside, ready to welcome them with a hug. I watched from a distance as each one of them stepped in, melted into the embrace, and began to weep. Life had been so cold for them that this embrace, this moment of tenderness, radiated a sacred warmth. Once everyone had gone in, and it was my turn to receive a hug, I also began to cry uncontrollably. I was overwhelmed. Because when we share warmth with someone else, it washes over us, too. And slowly, in our hearts, there ceases to exist an “us” and a “them,” to make way for simply “us.”

Here, on the margins, is where society is coldest. Here is where we must bring our warmth. This will look different for each of us. It may be a homeless man we encounter on our way to work. It may be a coworker eating lunch alone, whom we can invite out to eat. Or it may be someone sitting by themselves in the last pew at church, whom we can approach after mass. In these individuals we meet face-to-face – in the migrant, in the poor, in the lonely – we behold the face of Jesus. In them, we find our calling: to build community, to spread warmth, to be united in kinship as brothers and sisters.

Class of 2026: today we are sent into the world: to Wall Street and classrooms, to hospitals and courtrooms. Like Fr. Sorin, we stand before a world that has grown cold. And though the people we encounter may know nothing about 91�Թ�, we can leave its mark on their hearts with the warmth we have cultivated here. This may seem daunting. But we’ve been doing it for four years, and we are just getting started.

(Remarks as prepared)

As is our tradition at the University of 91�Թ�, let us begin with prayer.

Almighty God, we invite your presence here today. Be with us as we gather together in this
stadium, united as one family of many spiritual and cultural traditions. Under the loving gaze of
Our Blessed Mother, may we celebrate this sacred moment with Christ our Teacher.

Because you loved us first, we begin with gratitude. Thank you for our parents and families, who
have sacrificed so much so that we might graduate today — and who believed in us long before
we believed in ourselves. Thank you for our roommates and friends, who cheered us on in our
greatest joys, and held us through our deepest sorrows. Thank you for our faculty — our teachers,
coaches, and mentors — who have cultivated our minds and hearts, and taught us that the greatest
teacher of all is the love we show one another. And finally, we thank you for the University of
91�Թ�, which has granted us the transformative gift of education, and which sends us forth
today to be stewards of Your hope.

Loving God, guide us as we navigate the path ahead. Empty us of ambition and ego, that we may
know our lives are not our own. Ground us in humility, with eyes attentive enough to see every
person the way that You see them. Fill us with courage and a genuine hunger for justice, that our
hearts might be stirred to the boldness needed to accompany those whose voices need to be
Heard.

Lord God, send your Holy Spirit to dwell within us — now, and always. So that in the spirit of
91�Թ�, with lives filled with zeal and hearts full of sure hope, we may leave these halls
eager to enter the world as instruments of your peace.

We make this prayer to our gracious and loving God, through the intercession of your Blessed
Mother, the patroness of 91�Թ� du Lac. Amen.

(Remarks as prepared)

Once again, it is wonderful to be together. This is a great weekend, especially for those of you preparing to graduate, your families, and all those who have accompanied you these last few years.

And, amidst all the activities, it’s fitting that we pause to celebrate Mass together. It’s fitting that we celebrate the great Love of God; the God who has always been with you, through thick and thin, through ups and downs, and a God who will always be with you come what may.

In this Mass, and every Mass, God is calling you, calling us all, to open ourselves to his presence and to put our gifts, which really come from Him, at the service of others.

Over the past few weeks, I have encountered students preparing to graduate who expressed having some conflicting feelings about graduation. One graduating senior named Allie told me that there is a part of her that wishes her experience as a 91�Թ� student would never end…and another part of her that is incredibly excited to move on with her life. While Allie told me it’s difficult to think about parting company with the amazing friends she has made over the past few years, and the professors and mentors who have come to play such an important part in her life, she said she knows, deep down inside, that it’s time to move on.

Jack, another student preparing to graduate, told me that he, too, will miss just about everything about being a 91�Թ� student. When I asked what he meant by “just about everything,” he said he would not miss early morning classes and the weather between January and April. (Come on Jack, it’s not that bad, is it?!) He said that part of him would not mind hanging out on campus a while longer. I’m not sure his rector would like that.

But, then, he said, he remembers Fr. Pete’s story from Welcome Weekend Mass four years ago. Perhaps you remember that story as well. Fr. Pete told the story about how, when he was struggling to leave the familiarity of home and venture off to 91�Թ�, his mom told him, “I did not raise you to live in my basement.” (Fr. Pete, it’s good to know people remember that story! And we are glad that you moved out of that basement.)

Just as Fr. Pete knew it was time to move out of the basement and on with his life, Jack knows it’s time to move on with his life.

There are times in our lives we might call “in-between” times. In a sense, we are always “between” one thing and another. We are always between the past and the future. We are always between what has been and what will be. However, there are times and places in our lives when we experience a profound sense of being “in-between.” We might call these “liminal” experiences.

These liminal experiences are important and can even be sacred. We find ourselves leaving something behind and on the threshold of something new. We sense that something new is about to be demanded of us.

Graduation may be one such “in-between” or liminal time. Here, you are “between” your life and work as a 91�Թ� student and your life and work as a 91�Թ� graduate.

This in-between time can be a little uncomfortable. That’s because in a particular way there is change in the air. You know something new will be demanded of you, but perhaps you’re not exactly sure what that something is. It is not unusual to have conflicting feelings: excitement about the future and maybe some trepidation; self-confidence and maybe a little self-doubt; the desire to lengthen your time at 91�Թ� and to get on with your lives and careers.

As we have noted, today we celebrate the Ascension of the Lord! The time had come for Jesus to part company with his disciples. We might say that it had come time for the disciples to, in a sense, “graduate.” They had heard his preaching and teaching, in word and deed. They had observed him forgiving sins and healing the sick. They had witnessed his special care for the poor, the vulnerable and those made to feel like outsiders. They saw how he continued to embody the Love of God even when doing so got him arrested and crucified. And, to their utter amazement, they encountered him risen from the dead.

Up to this point, they were, for the most part, spectators of Jesus’s saving ministry. And as long as Jesus was with them in the way he was with them, they would remain largely spectators.

But, as I noted, now it was time for them to graduate. And, graduation for them would mean going from being largely spectators of Jesus’s saving ministry, to participants in that saving ministry.

In a sense, the disciples enter a “liminal space,” between the ascension, their “graduation,” and the sending of the Holy Spirit, Pentecost, when they begin to do the work Jesus did.

During this in-between time, they perhaps sensed that something new was about to be demanded of them, and probably a keen awareness that, as much as they learned from Jesus, they still needed something else if they were to rise to the occasion, answer the call, and truly do the work that Jesus did.

That something or someone else is, of course, the Holy Spirit. Because Jesus was not simply calling them to perform tasks in his name. He was calling them to love in his name. He did not give them a manual to follow; he gave them an example to follow.

To follow his example and love in his name means to love in a new and radical way: in a way that does not discriminate between deserving and underserving; in a way that transcends nationality and religious difference; in a way that transcends the politics of the day or ideology; in a way that brings comfort to the afflicted, and challenges arrogance and self-righteousness;

in a way that respects the dignity of all life; in a way that gives up on no one; and in a way that encourages all people to live their lives in that love.

In order to follow his example and love like him, they need his Spirit.

And Jesus promises to send it. He is not abandoning them. He will be with them, not in the same way he had been with them, but in a different and powerful way.

They are of course stunned by all of this, looking into the sky in their very in-between or liminal state, when an angel speaks one of my favorite lines in Scripture, “…why are you standing there looking at the sky?”

As if to say, “God did not give himself so completely, he did not die and rise again, in order for you to stand there looking up in the sky. Open yourselves to the Spirit! Address the needs around you see before you. Let him work through you. You have what it takes. He will be with you as he said.”

Those of you in this sacred time between your past as 91�Թ� students and your future as 91�Թ� graduates may feel a little like the disciples did at the ascension, upon their graduation, so to speak. Excited even if a little anxious, realizing that something new is about to be demanded of you. But, consider this: This is not the first time that something new has been demanded of you.

When you arrived at 91�Թ�, and listened to Fr. Pete tell his basement story,

something new was about to be demanded of you, and, with God’s grace, and the support of rectors, professors, mentors, family, and friends, you met the moment and here you are.

You met that moment not simply by performing tasks required of you; a 91�Թ� education is about more than performing tasks, as important as tasks may be.

You met that moment by perhaps taking time to reflect, to pray, to participate in Mass or other religious services, or by seeking advice and counsel from a professor, a rector, a campus minister, a mentor, or a friend. Getting to where you are now, to this moment, takes inner resources, whether you are aware of it or not. It takes Spirit, and in this Mass, and every Mass, God offers the Spirit that will give you, give all of us, the strength to navigate complexity, to always remember what matters the most, and, most importantly, to follow the example of Jesus and love as Jesus loves.

No doubt there will be times in your lives when, despite your immense gifts, you feel, like the disciples felt—that there are tasks beyond your talents. At times like that, I invite you to reflect on the words of Jesus to his disciples at the ascension, at their “graduation”: “Behold I am with you always, until the end of the age.”

My friends about to graduate, know of our prayers for you and the tremendous hope you give us.

May the Lord bless you with assurances of His presence and may you always be open to His Spirit, which gives us all the grace and strength to rise to every occasion and be the creative, courageous, and compassionate people we were created to be. God bless you all!

Dean Hildreth, Provost McGreevy, family and friends, thank you for being here today.

Dr. Boyce, thank you for your inspiring remarks and your example. What a great honor it is to have you here at 91�Թ� this weekend.

Graduates, congratulations —��your years of study and hard work and dedication have brought you to this day.

It does not seem that long ago that I was completing my graduate studies. From personal experience, I know that the journey of a graduate student can be filled with ups and downs, triumphs and tribulations, periods of clarity and of doubt, and moments of insight and of murkiness.

But, here you are. Your persistence and hard work have brought you to this moment.

However, you know you have not done it alone. And, if you’re like me, you know you could not have done it alone. You could not have done it without the support of the people who love you, who believed in you, who encouraged and challenged you, and who pushed you to dig deeper, become more focused, or adopt a more expansive way of thinking.

Even though their names will not be on your diploma, you know they share in this accomplishment.

So, to all the parents, siblings, spouses, friends, relatives, teachers, and mentors: thank you! Graduates, let’s applaud your families and loved ones together.

Class of 2026, as students and scholars, your contributions to your fields and disciplines have been meaningful — and will surely continue. And your contributions to 91�Թ� — this university and our learning community — have been equally significant.

Thanks to the work of so many — our incredible faculty and administrators and all of you — the strength of our research programs has propelled our University to new heights, among the top research institutions in North America.

In your time with us, you have contributed to important breakthroughs, enriched our campus community, and, in many cases, built bridges across disciplines, embodying the unity of truth and knowledge in how you live and work together.

We are so grateful for what you have given here, and we are so proud to call you our graduates.

To those of you embarking on a career devoted to research, scholarship, and discovery: know that your work is more important than ever. It is key if our world is to become healthier, more humane, more secure, more peaceful, and more just.

For as graduates, and members of the 91�Թ� family, we are called to be a force for good in the world. So beyond your chosen fields and this campus, we also look forward to your contributions to the world, and seeing how you will bring the expertise, knowledge, and skills you’ve gained here to develop new and different insights that help us all to live better lives. How you will leave this comfort zone and bring comfort to the vulnerable and the needy. How you will expand our knowledge, bringing us closer to truth, and lead with wisdom and grace.

Graduates, we congratulate you, we celebrate you, and we wish you every success. We look forward to hearing how you improve the world with what you have learned at 91�Թ�.

Let us bring today’s ceremony to a close with a brief prayer.

Loving God, we thank you for the many blessings you have bestowed on us and we thank you in a special way for the blessings you have bestowed on 91�Թ� through these graduates.

We pray that you bless them with all that they need as they begin a new chapter in their lives.

Bless their family members, friends, teachers, mentors and all those who played a role in accompanying and encouraging them over the years.

Help us all to grow in knowledge and understanding, wisdom and insight, and in faith, hope, and love.

We make this prayer through the intercession of Our Lady, 91�Թ�, and in the name of Christ the Lord.

Amen

Once again, congratulations! Go Irish!

Thank you, Provost McGreevy, distinguished faculty, and the many family and friends of our graduates.

Congratulations to the Graduate Class of 2026!

It is an honor and a privilege to be here, among all of you, at your iconic commencement celebration, at 91�Թ�, home of the Fighting Irish!

This is very special to me as my grandparents all came to the U.S. from Ireland as courageous young adults — full of adventure, optimism and ambition to build a new future for themselves and their families. I even have the steamer trunk of my grandmother, Mary Ann Dowling, emblazoned with her wonderful initials M.A.D.

They certainly embodied the spirit of the Fighting Irish, and this spirit is embedded within me!

I know my grandparents, together with my parents, would be so very proud to see me here today with you!

I also know your families are so proud of each of you and are here to share this moment with you.

You have also arrived here at 91�Թ� with your own background and history — one that has propelled you to expand your knowledge as you prepare for a rapidly changing future.

In particular, graduate school fosters appreciation not just of your field but so much more about the world and different perspectives. You have learned with students from around the country and the world — a rather marvelous manifestation of an American university. You now share a common bond with one another and a set of values — to bring your talents and your humanity to benefit society.

This enriches you in ways that you will appreciate even more later.

We are in a moment of profound change — we see tremendous advances in AI that hold promise to advance so many disciplines and areas of knowledge while also raising new concerns; we are observing rapid advancements in biology and medicine with the great promise of improving health and curing disease; yet we are also confronted with our past and our ongoing impact on climate and sustainability — we have a shared responsibility on all of these fronts to shape a future that is positive for all of humanity and our planet.

These are great challenges and also great opportunities for leadership and progress that uplifts all. I say it is a profound moment because the pace of these changes and the scope of their impact are remarkable, occurring not over a generation but within a span of years.

It can feel overwhelming — how can an ordinary person — or even a talented 91�Թ� graduate — make their mark and have an impact?

You are a generation of achievers and planners — you are ready for this moment, but you will need to set aside any sense of a well-worn path to “success”. Even in the face of urgency, you need to be thoughtful, you need guiding principles, and you must embrace change, recognize opportunity, and do so with integrity.

Sharing my own mostly unplanned journey cannot adequately advise or prepare you for the next years and decades, but I hope it can provide a sense of how to navigate the twists and turns ahead and inspire optimism for your future.

Let me highlight some key moments and decisions that shaped my career and life — upon reflection, these were guided by my own unconscious internal compass.

I have no doubt you will develop, and indeed are already developing one of your own.

When I look back on my own rather “ordinary” upbringing, I can see the points that led me on such an extraordinary academic journey.

In high school, I loved mathematics and physics — so I was advised to study engineering in college even though I had no idea what engineering was (apparently, physics was too impractical a choice!). As a freshman at Virginia Tech, I was advised — literally — to pursue industrial engineering “since I was a girl.” I wasn’t seeing the physics in these courses — it wasn’t a fit for me — but I was taking a required course in mechanics (that I loved) and learned from my instructor that I could and actually should major in this field. That support from one faculty member set a course for my life — it also showed me the impact that one person can have on your trajectory and that has stuck with me over my career.

Another early change that proved consequential for my life: after graduating with my B.S., I started a great job in the aerospace industry (I even met my husband there) but less than one year in, I realized that I wanted to be more on the cutting edge intellectually, more research focused. I then left the job to go to graduate school at MIT. This was another lesson: follow your instincts, take time to find your fit and pursue what you enjoy

At MIT, I found my fit and ended up staying on for my Ph.D. — working in the area of molecular structure and nonlinear mechanics of polymers. I enjoyed the research, and I had great and supportive mentors. During my last semester, my first son was born and so began the balance of my wonderful, amazing family and my fantastic research. That balance is difficult but so rewarding. I will never forget the day when I was near completing my thesis, and heading to a meeting with my advisors. I carefully loaded my infant son in the car to head to the meeting and left my hardcopy draft of my thesis on the roof of the car. Needless to say, it ended up all over the road, but my son was safe and secure (I knew my priorities)!

After graduate school, I joined the MIT faculty. I loved the independence of charting my own research program. It was challenging and there were difficult moments. One in particular was having a key paper that I considered a major breakthrough rejected as I was approaching tenure (and the only woman faculty member at that time). I stood my ground and persisted —for myself and my talented PhD student — confident that I was doing great research. The paper did eventually get accepted and today it is my most cited paper. I did get tenure and that Ph.D. student of mine — she is the head of mechanical engineering at the University of Michigan. You will experience rejection — indeed, papers that I have had first rejected have turned out to be some of my most cited and most consequential works, and my Ph.D. students and postdocs occupy faculty positions at top universities around the world. This is another important aspect of your work — your impact on propelling other people forward can be incredible.

Leading major interdisciplinary research programs as a faculty member and then as department head at MIT made me more aware of the impact that I could have in such a role —- impact on people, programs, broader research directions, and decision making. Doing so with ethics, integrity and emotional intelligence, I realized how important the visibility of women in engineering was to attracting and supporting women in engineering — if women are 50% of the population, why are we not 50% in engineering? Why are we missing out on that talent? Talent that could lead to great advancements for society. As department head, undergraduate women's enrollment in mechanical engineering reached nearly 50%.

Your own values, your questions, and curiosity can lead you to a bigger playing field — maybe one with the national visibility of the one you are sitting on now! In 2013, I joined Columbia University as dean of the School of Engineering and Applied Science. It was — and still is — a time of expansion for engineering, a “renaissance” moment for engineering to impact so many fields. Our school vision, Engineering for Humanity, recognizes the impact of engineering on society, the need to attract a wider range of talent to engineering and engage with more fields — including the ones that you are each now expert in - shaping engineering in a larger context. This greater appreciation and knowledge of other fields led to my appointment as provost of Columbia University.

Taking on these opportunities for leadership, while sometimes challenging, can lead you to incredible places as new opportunities for societal impact present themselves. Let me add one final vignette. In New York City, we have one of the largest subway systems in the world — by station count, it is the largest. The subway tunnel connecting Brooklyn to Manhattan was scheduled to be shut down for 12 to 18 months for a full renovation due to heavy damage from the 2012 Superstorm Sandy — impacting hundreds of thousands of daily commuters and surrounding businesses. And because it was the L train, New York media had dubbed it the L-Pocalypse. The governor of New York asked me to assemble a team to find another way to repair that tunnel. I found myself, together with my fellow dean at Cornell, convening an interdisciplinary team of faculty experts across mechanical, electrical and civil engineering. We toured subway tunnels at midnight to understand their structure and alternate possibilities. It was intense and amazing, and I’m happy to say we found another way and the subway did not have to shut down, impacting so many lives and businesses. Not so bad for this ordinary girl from New Jersey who didn’t know what engineering was.

In closing, as you embark on your future, I encourage you to be true to yourself and your ambitions; to become leaders not just of your field and not just for yourself but for others, and to make a larger impact for the sake of humanity.

Embrace and develop all of your talents and skills — they all come into play in many ways and at different times.

Draw on your guiding principles. You have been educated by a wonderful, mission-minded University, a university dedicated to community, service, and being a force for good in the world.

Stay true to these principles and to your own past, family, and history. This will inform you in ways you will appreciate with time.

To the 91�Թ� graduates of 2026, never lose your curiosity and sense of wonder and discovery! Know that extraordinary things can come from ordinary beginnings.

In the face of challenges, be thoughtful, be open-minded and open-hearted, strive for excellence. Be persistent, be ethical, and be optimistic.

We believe in you and look forward to all that you will do going forward!

Congratulations!

Doors will open at 8 a.m. The academic procession will begin at 8:30 a.m., followed by the ceremony at 9 a.m.

Guest tickets are not required for the ceremony.

In announcing these appointments, Board Chair John Veihmeyer said, “The election of these exceptionally talented leaders further strengthens our Board of Trustees and Board of Fellows. Their diverse experiences and deep commitment to 91�Թ�’s unique Catholic character will provide essential perspective as we navigate the opportunities and challenges ahead. On behalf of the entire Board, I welcome our new colleagues and thank them for their dedication to Our Lady’s University.”

“We are profoundly grateful to Claire, Chris, Bishop Pat and Paulita for their willingness to serve the University of 91�Թ� in these vitally important governance roles,” said University President Rev. Robert A. Dowd, C.S.C. “Each brings a remarkable breadth of leadership that will be invaluable to the Board’s work. I look forward to working closely with them in advancing 91�Թ�’s distinctive mission.”

Babineaux-Fontenot is the former chief executive officer of Feeding America, the nation’s largest charity, distributing food to more than 49 million people facing hunger each year. Prior to joining Feeding America, Babineaux-Fontenot was executive vice president of finance and global treasurer at Walmart. She is the 2024 recipient of the Laetare Medal, the University’s most prestigious award given each year to an American Catholic.

Babineaux-Fontenot holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, a Juris Doctor from Southern University Law Center, and a Master of Laws in taxation from Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law. She and her husband, Barry Fontenot, have two children.

Admiral Grady retired in 2025 after 41 years of distinguished service in the United States Navy. From 2021 to 2025 he served as the 12th vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the nation’s second-highest-ranking military officer. He also held the position of acting chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff from February to April 2025. From April 2021 to September 2025, he was the Navy’s “Old Salt,” the longest-serving surface warfare officer on active duty.

Grady graduated from 91�Թ� with an undergraduate degree in history and received his commission through 91�Թ�’s Naval Reserve Officers’ Training Corps. He also holds master’s degrees from Georgetown University, where he participated as a fellow in foreign service at the Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service, and the National War College. He and his wife, Christine, are the parents of three children, including two 91�Թ� graduates.

Elected to the Board of Fellows, Bishop Neary was appointed as the 10th bishop of the Diocese of Saint Cloud, Minnesota, by the late Pope Francis in December 2022. Prior to this appointment, he served as pastor of Holy Redeemer Parish in Portland, Oregon, and spent eight years in leadership of the Congregation of Holy Cross seminary in Nairobi, Kenya, and as district superior of Holy Cross in East Africa. Since 2025, he has served as chair of the board of Catholic Relief Services.

Bishop Neary earned an undergraduate degree in history from 91�Թ�, and completed his Master of Divinity degree at the Jesuit School of Theology in Berkeley, California. He was ordained a priest of the Congregation of Holy Cross in 1991.

Elected a Fellow, Pike has been a member of the Board of Trustees since 2022. She serves as managing partner of the Chicago office of the law firm Ropes & Gray and is a partner in its asset management group, representing registered fund products and counseling boards of directors on governance, regulatory risks, industry trends and insurance matters.

She earned her bachelor’s and law degrees from 91�Թ� and teaches courses in mutual fund regulation at 91�Թ� Law School and the Northwestern Pritzker School of Law. She and her husband, Zulfiqar Bokhari, who also holds two degrees from the University, are parents of two children, one of them a 91�Թ� student.

Composed of six laywomen and laymen and six priests of 91�Թ�’s founding religious community, the Congregation of Holy Cross, the Board of Fellows is the University’s highest governing body. The Fellows elect the Trustees, adopt and amend the bylaws and are specifically charged with maintaining 91�Թ�’s Catholic character.

The 2025 class comprises nearly 500 scientists, engineers and innovators across two dozen disciplines including anthropology, astronomy, biological sciences, chemistry, engineering and physics. AAAS is one of the world’s largest general scientific societies and publisher of the Science family of journals.

“It is wonderful to see these scholar-teachers receive this well-deserved recognition,” said , the Charles and Jill Fischer Provost and Francis A. McAnaney Professor of History. “We are proud to celebrate the achievements of our distinguished colleagues whose scientific contributions help advance 91�Թ� as a leading global Catholic research university.”

91�Թ� faculty elected to the 2025 class of AAAS Fellows include:

• is a professor in the . Chen is being recognized for his contributions to the field of computational bioscience with a particular focus on his work to improve biomedical imaging. However, his research interests span a number of other areas including machine learning, computational geometry, algorithms, data mining and parallel and distributed computing. Chen holds eight U.S. patents in computer science, engineering and biomedical technologies and has authored more than 500 journal articles, conference papers and book chapters.

• is a professor in the and has a concurrent appointment in the . Shrout studies the behavior of bacterial communities, which has implications for both human health and the natural environment. His research seeks to understand how bacteria sense and respond to nearby cues, coordinate gene expression and function as populations when growing on surfaces. Shrout was recognized for both his research contributions and the example he is setting for the next generation of interdisciplinary scientists.

“From developing algorithms that enhance life-saving medical imaging to uncovering the mechanisms at work in microbial biofilms, Professors Chen and Shrout demonstrate the ways in which engineering can make significant contributions to improving public health,” said , the Matthew H. McCloskey Dean of Engineering at the University of 91�Թ� and a class of 2023 AAAS Fellow.

Becoming a fellow of AAAS is a lifetime honor that recognizes members’ efforts on behalf of the advancement of science or its applications in service to society. It is among the most distinct honors within the scientific community.

AAAS launched its lifetime fellowship recognition in 1874, about 25 years after the association was founded. This first cohort included , who in 1865 became the first director of the newly established College of Science at the University of 91�Թ�.

Contact: Brandi Wampler, associate director of media relations, brandiwampler@nd.edu, 574-631-2632

The honorees are:

Marguerite Barankitse (doctor of laws)

Marguerite Barankitse, a humanitarian leader and teacher, is credited with saving more than 50,000 children and providing them with access to health care, education and culture through her organization, Maison Shalom (House of Peace). In 1993, as civil war raged in Burundi, Barankitse, a Tutsi, tried to hide 72 of her closest Hutu neighbors to keep them safe from persecution. They were discovered and executed, while Barankitse was forced to watch. She was, however, able to shelter 25 children from the massacre. This experience set her on a path toward humanitarian work, which she continues to this day, providing refugees and children affected by war with access to education, health care, economic empowerment and psychosocial support. What began as a relief effort has evolved into a comprehensive development entity, offering job training, microfinance and medical care across Burundi, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. In 2015, following her protests against government overreach in Burundi, Barankitse was forced to relocate to Rwanda, continuing her work in exile. Animated by her deep Catholic faith and belief in the inherent dignity of every human being, Barankitse has been a stalwart advocate for human rights, often at great cost to her own safety and livelihood.

Mary Cunningham Boyce (doctor of engineering)

A distinguished expert in mechanical engineering and champion of interdisciplinary scholarship to confront global challenges through basic research and real-world implementation, Mary Boyce is provost emerita and professor of mechanical engineering at Columbia University. She joined the faculty at Columbia in 2013, serving as dean of the Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science. She was appointed provost in 2021 and oversaw the return to campus following the COVID-19 pandemic. Prior to her tenure at Columbia, Boyce was a faculty member at MIT for 25 years. A leading researcher of polymeric materials and soft composites, her groundbreaking contributions include creating new modeling methods for the use of engineers in commercial products, transportation vehicles, and biomedical devices, among others. Boyce’s contributions to the field led to her election as a fellow of the American Academy of Mechanics, the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and her election to the National Academy of Engineering. She is the recipient of numerous honors, including the 2024 Benjamin Franklin Medal in Mechanical Engineering, the 2020 Timoshenko Medal and the 2015 Engineering Science Medal.

Eamon Duffy (doctor of laws)

Eamon Duffy is an emeritus professor of the history of Christianity at the University of Cambridge and a former president and fellow of Magdalene College at Cambridge. Originally from Dundalk, in County Louth, Ireland, Duffy is a renowned scholar of Christianity in the Middle Ages and the Reformation, the history of the papacy, and Christian material and visual culture. Duffy has written extensively for both scholarly and popular audiences, and two of his books, “The Stripping of the Altars: Traditional Religion in England, 1400-1580” and “The Voices of Morebath: Reformation and Rebellion in an English Village,” are widely credited with reshaping the modern understanding of Catholicism in late medieval England as a vibrant and popular faith rather than a dying institution. In addition to his academic achievements, he was a member of the Pontifical Committee for Historical Sciences and chaired the editorial board for the Calendar of Papal Letters, tasked with publishing Vatican material concerning Britain and Ireland between the 14th and 16th centuries. For his outstanding scholarship, Duffy was elected a fellow of the British Academy in 2004. He is also a fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London. In 2017, Duffy was one of two Cambridge professors honored with a Papal Knighthood by Pope Francis in honor of his outstanding work for the Church and the Holy See.

Christopher J. Murphy III (doctor of laws)

Having earned an undergraduate degree at 91�Թ�, a J.D. from the University of Virginia and an MBA from Harvard University, Chris Murphy joined with his father-in-law and a group of investors in 1972 to purchase The First Bank and Trust Company of South Bend, now 1st Source Bank. He joined the bank as a director in 1972 and an employee at the end of 1976. He has served the organization as a board member, president, CEO and, most recently, executive chairman for more than 50 years, growing it to become the largest locally held financial institution in the region and consistently recognized among America’s best banks. Deeply committed to a life of generous service, Murphy has offered his considerable talents to numerous organizations seeking to address some of society’s most critical needs — including health care, economic development, education and support for the arts — at the regional, state and national levels. Among many other leadership positions, Murphy has served as chairman and CEO of the World Presidents’ Organization, on the international board of The Young Presidents’ Organization and on the board of directors of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago. In 2001 he was inducted into the Indiana Academy and served as chair of its board of regents. He was named Business Leader of the Year by the Indiana Chamber of Commerce in 2000, was inducted into the South Bend Community Hall of Fame in 2013, and has twice been named a Sagamore of the Wabash, Indiana’s highest honor. He and his wife, Carmen (Carmi), are parents to six children, including four 91�Թ� graduates.

J. Christopher Reyes (doctor of laws)

J. Christopher Reyes is co-founder and chair of Reyes Holdings LLC, one of the largest global providers of food and beverage production and distribution services, with operations spanning North, Central and South America, as well as Europe, the Middle East and the Pacific. Reyes founded the company with his father and brother in 1976, beginning as a small beer distributor in South Carolina, and today delivering 1.3 billion cases of food and beverages globally each year. A widely respected philanthropist and member of many charitable boards, Reyes is a distinguished lifetime director of the Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago and a director of Northwestern Memorial Healthcare and the Ronald McDonald House Charities. He has served on 91�Թ�’s Board of Trustees since 2003, providing invaluable leadership and wise counsel to three University presidents. Reyes and his wife, Anne, have four children, three of whom are graduates of the University.

Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin, C.Ss.R. (doctor of laws)

Named a cardinal by Pope Francis in 2016, Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin, C.Ss.R., has served as the sixth archbishop of Newark since 2017. The son of Irish immigrants and the eldest of 13 children, he was ordained a priest for the Redemptorist Order in 1978 and ministered for 11 years in parishes in his native Detroit and Chicago. After serving as superior general of the Redemptorists, he was ordained archbishop in 2010 and appointed by Pope Benedict XVI to serve as the Secretary of the Congregation (now Dicastery) for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life. From 2012 to 2017, he led the Archdiocese of Indianapolis. In addition to his responsibilities in the Archdiocese of Newark, he serves on the Vatican’s Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, the Synod of Bishops, the Dicastery for Culture and Education, the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity, the Council for the Economy, the Dicastery for Bishops, and the Joint International Commission for Theological Dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church. Fluent in five languages, Cardinal Tobin is a graduate of Holy Redeemer College with a bachelor’s degree in philosophy, and he earned a master’s in religious education and a Master of Divinity degree from Mount St. Alphonsus Seminary.

Contact: Carrie Gates, associate director of media relations, 574-993-9220, c.gates@nd.edu��

Part of the , the panel discussion brought together leaders from the University and NBC Sports to reflect on the impact and evolution of this storytelling platform.

91�Թ� President , opened the conversation by positioning the WWYFF series within the broader theme of this year’s forum, “Cultivating Hope.”

“We know that there are many people in our world who find it difficult to hope,” Father Dowd said. ���� order to be agents of hope, we need to take the challenges in our world seriously. And that’s essentially what the ‘What Would You Fight For?’ series is all about — highlighting ways that our faculty and students are addressing the greatest challenges in our world through their research and their scholarship.”

NBC Sports play-by-play announcer Mike Tirico moderated the panel discussion, which featured Rob Hyland, coordinating producer of NBC Sunday Night Football; 91�Թ� 2011 alumna Lindsay Schanzer, supervising producer of NBC Sports; Meenal Datta, the Jane Schoelch DeFlorio Collegiate Professor of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering at 91�Թ�; and 91�Թ� undergraduate Lauren Eglite, a chemical engineering major.

Through 117 two-minute spots over the past two decades, produced in partnership with NBC Sports, the WWYFF series has showcased 91�Թ�’s effort to build a better world and inspire hope through research, scholarship and service. Along the way, the series has won three Telly Awards and a 2024 Sports Emmy for outstanding public service content.

Tirico reflected on the unique power of pairing sports with storytelling.

“The campus community’s foundation is the faculty, professors and staff, and to be able to share their stories, not just of what it means in the 91�Թ� community, but what it means globally — that’s the power of 91�Թ�,” Tirico said. “And what better place to share that for the last two decades than the ultimate front porch of the University? Because athletics is the front porch. … When you can marry those two vehicles, now it’s more than just a football team and a little commercial during the game. It’s a story of what an institution is all about.”

For faculty members like Datta, whose innovative research on glioblastoma was highlighted in the WWYFF feature “,” the experience of being featured in the campaign offered a tangible, inspiring connection with those who benefit most from her research.

“I think what touched me the most was the communication from patients, from their families, from their loved ones, from Domers who emailed me and said, ‘My roommate passed away from this disease,’ from 91�Թ� alumni who are still fighting the disease today,” Datta said. “And remembering that what we do is for people was a very important reminder. I think that that was the most valuable response that we received.”

The conversation also showcased the unique impact the series had on one future 91�Թ� student. Eglite, now a sophomore, shared how watching the WWYFF piece in 91�Թ� Stadium in 2017 inspired her to come to 91�Թ�, and inspired her father to work alongside engineering professor to advance his research and create a safer future for millions living with allergies.

Her story was featured in the 2025 piece “.”

A reception following the panel discussion allowed participants to talk with more than 30 91�Թ� faculty who have been featured in WWYFF pieces and hear updates on their research and its impact.

.

Sister Raffaella Petrini, F.S.E., president of the Pontifical Commission and Governorate of Vatican City State, will be the principal speaker and receive an honorary degree at the University of 91�Թ�’s 181st University on May 17, 91�Թ� President , announced today.

In February 2025, the late Pope Francis appointed Sister Petrini, a member of the religious congregation of the Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist, to the dual roles of president of the Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State and president of the Governorate of Vatican City State. She is the first woman to hold these top leadership positions in the Vatican. Prior to these appointments, Sister Petrini served as secretary general of the Governorate of Vatican City State.

“Sister Raffaella is an extraordinary leader who works tirelessly for the common good and radiates the peace, love and hope of Christ. As the highest-ranking woman in the Vatican, she embodies the future of women’s leadership in the Church, having served Pope Francis and now Pope Leo with deep wisdom, unfailing dedication and true humility,” Father Dowd said. “It is a privilege to have her address the members of the Class of 2026 and their loved ones who are sure to be inspired by her words and prophetic witness.”

As president of the governorate, Sister Petrini is responsible for the administrative operations of Vatican City State, which has approximately 600 inhabitants and nearly 2,000 employees. Her responsibilities include managing public services; overseeing security, health care and the Vatican Museums; chairing the Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State; and ensuring that all operations align with the pope’s mission.

Sister Petrini is also a member of the Dicastery for Bishops, which assists the pope in the selection and appointment of bishops, and the Administration of the Patrimony of the Apostolic See, the body responsible for managing Vatican finances.

On Feb. 3, Pope Leo XIV appointed Sister Petrini to the Commission for Reserved Matters, the entity responsible for awarding financial contracts in confidential areas of the Vatican.

Born in Rome, Sister Petrini is a distinguished scholar and economist. She holds a degree in political science from Libera Università Internazionale degli Studi Sociali (LUISS) in Rome, a master’s degree in organizational behavior from the University of Hartford and a doctorate in social sciences from the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum) in Rome. In addition to her responsibilities in the Vatican City State, Sister Petrini is a professor of welfare economics and sociology of economic processes in the Faculty of Social Sciences at the Angelicum.

Sister Petrini visited the 91�Թ� campus in November 2023 to present the at the Nanovic Institute for European Studies, focusing on integral human development and organizational management rooted in a “leadership of care.”

The 2026 University Commencement Ceremony will be held in 91�Թ� Stadium on May 17 beginning at 9 a.m. with the academic procession.

Contact: Carrie Gates, associate director of media relations, c.gates@nd.edu, 574-993-9220