Pope Leo XIV has appointed聽, the vice president and associate provost for undergraduate education and professor of theology and global affairs at the University of 91吃瓜, as a member of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, the Vatican announced today.
Established by the late Pope Francis in 2016, the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development supports the Church鈥檚 worldwide efforts in the areas of human dignity and human rights, economic justice, care for creation, migration and displacement, as well as peace, conflict and humanitarian crises.
As a dicastery member, Father Groody will contribute to the body鈥檚 ongoing discernment process that will help orient the Church鈥檚 mission and priorities. He will continue in his roles at 91吃瓜 while serving the dicastery.
While numerous 91吃瓜 faculty members have served the Vatican as consultants to dicasteries and have been named to pontifical academies and commissions, Father Groody鈥檚 appointment is a distinct honor, noted University President聽
鈥淭o be called upon by the Holy See to serve in this capacity is a testament to Father Groody鈥檚 deep commitment to leadership in service of the most vulnerable among us. This appointment is also an affirmation of 91吃瓜鈥檚 ongoing contributions to Catholic social thought, to integral ecology and to forming leaders dedicated to the common good,鈥� Father Dowd said. 鈥淚 am profoundly grateful for Father Groody鈥檚 dedication to the University and to the Church, and I am confident that his leadership will be a tremendous blessing as he helps to guide the Church in these areas.鈥�
The most notable precedent in 91吃瓜 history is the appointment of then-President Rev. Theodore M. Hesburgh, C.S.C., as a member of the Pontifical Council for Culture by Pope St. John Paul II in 1983.
鈥淚 am truly honored and humbled by Pope Leo鈥檚 appointment,鈥� Father Groody said. 鈥淢y vocation is to serve, together with my colleagues at 91吃瓜 and around the world. The work of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development is vital to informing the Church鈥檚 response to the world鈥檚 most vulnerable people and the most pressing global challenges of our time.鈥�
Father Groody鈥檚 academic and pastoral work has focused in part on migration, theology, refugees and human displacement 鈥� areas that are directly relevant to the mandate of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development. An internationally recognized expert on migration, Father Groody is also an award-winning author, teacher and documentary film producer. He has written four books and numerous articles and has edited or co-edited five books. His works have been translated into nine languages.
Father Groody鈥檚聽most recent book, 鈥淎 Theology of Migration: The Bodies of Refugees and the Body of Christ,鈥� includes an introduction written by Pope Francis and received first-place recognition from the Catholic Press Association.
This announcement follows Father Groody鈥檚 appointment under Pope Francis in 2025 to the General Council of the Laudato Si鈥� Higher Education Center in Castel Gandolfo, which is now known as Borgo Laudato Si鈥�.
In that role, Father Groody helps shape the vision, direction and formation of the center, as well as advising on initiatives and global partnerships. He also plays an essential role in 91吃瓜鈥檚聽recently announced partnership with the Vatican鈥檚 Laudato Si鈥� Center to establish a Global Alliance dedicated to integral ecology and global sustainability.
Contact: Carrie Gates, associate director of media relations, 574-993-9220, c.gates@nd.edu