February 2007: Contents

Pope Visits the Gregorian, Calling It a Priority of the Society of Jesus

Pope Benedict XVI (center) with Superior General Rev. Peter-Hans Kolvenbach, S.J., Superior General of the Society of Jesus (to the Pope's right) and guests of the 2006 Colloquium.

A Word from the President

Rev. George Sullivan, S.J., Foundation VP, Returns to Creighton Prep

2006 Colloquium in Rome

Pope Visits the Gregorian, Calling It a "Priority of the Society of Jesus"

His Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI, visited the Pontifical Gregorian University on Friday, November 3, 2006 in honor of the Jesuit Jubilee Year. This jubilee marked the 450th anniversary of the death of St. Ignatius as well as the 500th anniversary of the births of St. Francis Xavier and of Blessed Pierre Faber.

The Pope in the Aula Magna of The Gregorian University.

Here are excerpts from the Holy Father's discourse that day:

I greet the benefactors present here, the Gregorian University Foundation of New York, and other groups of benefactors. Dear friends, I am grateful for all you do so generously to sustain this work that the Holy See has entrusted and continues to entrust to the Society of Jesus. I greet the Jesuit Fathers who carry on their teaching with a praiseworthy spirit of self-denial and austerity of life; along with them I greet the other Professors, extending my thoughts also to the Fathers and Brothers of the Pontifical Biblical Institute and the Pontifical Oriental Institute which, together with the Gregorian form a prestigious academic consortium that embraces not only teaching but also the resources of the three libraries, enriched by incomparable specialized collections.

With joy I find myself in this courtyard which I have visited on various occasions. In a particular way I fondly recall the time when, as ordinary professor of dogmatics and the history of dogma at the University of Regensburg, I was invited in 1972 by then Rector Hervé Carrier, S.J., to give a course to the students of the second cycle of the specialization in dogmatic theology. As an old colleague I say to you, dear Professors and students, that the efforts of study and teaching, in order to have meaning in relation to the Kingdom of God, must be supported by the theological virtues. In fact, the immediate object of theological science, in its diverse areas, is God Himself, revealed in Jesus Christ.

Only with reference to the God who is love, who is revealed in Jesus Christ, can man find the meaning of his existence and live in hope, in spite of his experience of those ills that wound his personal existence and the society in which he lives. Hope makes it possible for man not to enclose himself in a paralyzing and sterile nihilism, but to be open to a generous commitment to his society so as to make it better. It is the task that God gave us in creating us in his image and likeness, a task that confers on us an enormous dignity, but also an enormous responsibility.

The mission [of the Gregorian] is difficult because it requires a constant fidelity to its history and tradition, so as not to lose its own historic roots, and at the same time an openness to present reality, to respond to the needs of the Church and the world of today after a careful discernment carried on with a creative spirit.

Pope Benedict XVI greets Foundation Chairman Peter Mullen and his wife, Billie (at left). The Rector of the Gregorian, Rev. Gianfranco Ghirlanda, S.J. is in the background (center).

Dear sons of Saint Ignatius, once again the Pope entrusts this University to you, a work so important for the universal Church and for so many particular churches. It has always been a priority among the apostolic priorities of the Society of Jesus.

Dear friends, with fatherly affection, I entrust all of you, who are the living components of the Gregorian University – Professors and teachers, students, non-teaching staff, benefactors and friends – to the intercession of St. Ignatius of Loyola, of St. Robert Bellarmine, and of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Queen of the Society of Jesus, who, in the coat of arms of the University is invoked with the title "Seat of Wisdom." With these sentiments I impart on all the Apostolic Blessing, as a sign of abundant heavenly favours.

A Word from the President

Your goodness, manifested in so many ways as well as in contributions, pledges and bequests, truly benefits the excellent Jesuit center of Catholic higher education in Rome, namely, the Gregorian Consortium, the Pontifical Gregorian University ("Greg"), the Pontifical Biblical Institute ("Biblicum") and the Pontifical Oriental Institute ("Oriental"). The talented students and the highly qualified professors and administrators of these fine institutions are most grateful for your continual and caring concern and support.

Pope Benedict XVI greets Foundation President, Rev. Robert O'Toole, S.J. The Rector of the Gregorian, Rev. Gianfranco Ghirlanda, S.J. is in the background (center).

As you know from the feature article of this issue, during our Roman Colloquium this year we had the privilege of participating in the Holy Father's visit to the Gregorian University. The excerpts found in that article demonstrate the confidence that His Holiness has in the whole Gregorian University family. I wish that each of you could have been there, for it was truly an uplifting experience. His Holiness opened his discourse with a gentle and appealing address to the students whom he indicated were the real reason for the Greg's existence. Their reverential but enthusiastic response and of everyone there present revealed the significant of the moment and their deeper realization of how God works through that university for the intellectual and spiritual benefit of so many. Pope Benedict XVI has no doubt that the Gregorian University qualifies as one of the greatest services the Society of Jesus renders the universal Church.

The Holy Father recalled that the Gregorian University, ever since its origins as the Roman College, was distinguished for the study of philosophy and theology and to this one would have to add the names of famous canonists and Church historians. Today there are also other considerations, the encounter with secular culture and the relations with other religions. Also the Gregorian University has cultivated the human sciences which because they study the human person cannot but make reference to God.

His Holiness's words prove most encouraging to all of us associated with the Gregorian University and supportive of its significant mission in the Church. Obviously, I join him in thanking you. With your caring generosity this prestigious university and its associated institutions, the Pontifical Biblical Institute and the Pontifical Oriental Institute, are able to fulfill their truly important roles of service in and for the Church, and this explains why we are so grateful to each of you.

Affectionately and gratefully, in Him,

Rev. George Sullivan, S.J., Foundation VP, Returns to Creighton Prep

Rev. Robert F. O'Toole, S.J., president of the Gregorian University Foundation, announced that Rev. George R. Sullivan, S.J., vice-president of the Foundation since 1989, has been missioned by his provincial superior to be assistant to the president of Creighton Preparatory School, the Jesuit high school in Omaha, Nebraska.

This is the fourth time for Fr. Sullivan at Creighton Prep. He came there first as a student from 1958 to 1962. As a newly ordained priest, he served as a theology teacher and assistant to the president. After receiving a law degree from Creighton University he served as the Prep's president from 1982-1988.

Fr. Sullivan, during his years of service to the Foundation, was based in Los Angeles and raised money in the states west of the Missouri River. He said, "In working for the Foundation, I came to know the Church Universal and Jesuits from all over the world. It has been an honor to assist these three vital and important institutions that serve the Church and churches in educating exceptional leaders."

The Board of Trustees in a resolution said, "Fr. George Sullivan in his truly pleasant and gentle manner has been instrumental in procuring numerous contributions and not a few major gifts. We thank Fr. George for his extraordinary commitment and assiduous activity on behalf of the outstanding institutions we represent, and we ask the Lord to bless him in his new work."

2006 Colloquium in Rome

Colloquium guests in the cortile of the Biblicum.

The Eternal City welcomed the Foundation's 2006 Colloquium from October 29 through November 4, 2006. The Colloquium was hosted by Mr. Peter P. Mullen, chairman of the Foundation, and Rev. Robert F. O'Toole, S.J., president of the Foundation.

The Colloquium guests attended academic programs at the Biblicum, the Gregorian and the Orientale, enjoying lunch with the Jesuit Community at each school. In addition to visits at each of the institutions, the Colloquium guests attended Mass and toured the Basilica of St. John Lateran, the Basilica of St. Paul's Outside the Walls, other Basilicas and toured St. Peter's and the Sistine Chapel.

On the social side of the Colloquium calendar, guests attended a choral concert by Il Coro del Lunedì, followed by dinner at Rome's Hunt Club. Other events included a reception at the residence of the United States Ambassador to the Holy See and Mrs. Francis Rooney.

The final day of the Colloquium was truly a Grand Finale as Colloquium guests were present for the visit of Pope Benedict XVI to the Gregorian University (see story above). Following the Papal visit, the guests moved on to a quiet luncheon with about a dozen students of the institutions, each one of whom gave a brief and touching presentation about why they had come to study at the Gregorian. After the Holy Father's words regarding this university's importance, it was truly fitting to hear the students personalize his message in their lives.

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