Villanova University Confers Inaugural Pope Leo XIV Sustainability Medal on Cardinal Czerny at Borgo Laudato Si'

More than 350 global sustainability leaders are gathering in Rome and Castel Gandolfo for Villanova University's International Sustainability Conference to advance collaborative solutions to one of the world's most pressing challenges.

CASTEL GANDOLFO, Italy (Oct. 13, 2026) - Cardinal Michael Czerny, S.J., Prefect Emeritus of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, today received the inaugural Pope Leo XIV Sustainability Medal in a ceremony at Borgo Laudato Si'. Presented by Villanova University during its 2026 International Sustainability Conference, the presentation marks the first time that a medal bearing the name of Pope Leo XIV has been awarded.

The event gathered Vatican dignitaries, international scholars, and university leaders to honor Cardinal Czerny's lifelong advocacy for climate justice, human rights, and vulnerable populations.

Accepting the honor, His Eminence Cardinal Michael Czerny S.J. emphasized three key dimensions of ecological action: the urgency of acting in time, the quest for environmental balance, and the threat of our disconnection from nature. Addressing these challenges, Czerny called for deep conversion, stating that "the only true solution: to discard our many bad habits and adopt new paths through countless personal, communal and social changes of behavior." Czerny stated during his address.

Hosting the ceremony at Borgo Laudato Si', His Eminence Cardinal Fabio Baggio, C.S., General Director of the Laudato Si' Center for Higher Education, welcomed delegates and highlighted the profound integration required to address the current ecological crisis drawing directly on Pope Francis's teachings. "The world does not need environmental care alone, social justice alone, or faith alone. It needs the living connection between all three," Cardinal Baggio stated, emphasizing the foundational vision guiding the partnership between the Holy See and academic institutions.

Villanova University President the Rev. Peter M. Donohue, OSA, PhD, underscored the institution's commitment to advancing global ethical leadership through higher education. "When truth, unity, and love work together, they become a powerful force for healing our common home and advancing the dignity of every human person." Fr. Donohue noted.

Founded by Villanova University Sustainability Office, led by Rev. John Abubakar, OSA., PhD, the biennial International Sustainability Conference was launched in 2024. Building on this platform, the university inaugurated the Pope Leo XIV Sustainability Medal in 2026, creating a dual biennial framework that convenes global leaders while honoring achievements that integrate ecological stewardship with human dignity to safeguard both the planet and its people.

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Sustainability at Villanova University: In 2007, Villanova University President the Rev. Peter M. Donohue, OSA, PhD, signed the American College & University Presidents' Climate Commitment. In 2018, the Villanova Sustainability Leadership Council was established to develop a 10-year, actionable, and measurable plan to guide the University's comprehensive effort to support the planet and its people and to ensure prosperity for all. By committing the University to the Laudato Si Action Platform and developing a customized Laudato Si' Plan, Villanova University is taking decisive and unflinching action to build a better future. At the core of all sustainability activities, both large and small, is the University's vision to establish an ethos of sustainable living. As an Augustinian Catholic institution, Villanova is committed to generating and advocating sustainable action to help create a future that provides enough for all, forever.

About Villanova University: Since 1842, Villanova University's Augustinian Catholic intellectual tradition has been the cornerstone of an academic community in which students learn to think critically, act compassionately, and succeed while serving others. There are more than 10,000 undergraduate, graduate and law students in the University's six colleges-the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, the Villanova School of Business, the College of Engineering, the M. Louise Fitzpatrick College of Nursing, the College of Professional Studies and the Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law. Ranked among the nation's top universities, Villanova supports its students' intellectual growth and prepares them to become ethical leaders who create positive change everywhere life takes them. For more, visit www.villanova.edu