In June 2026, Mount Aloysius President John McKeegan traveled to the Vatican to participate in the Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities (ACCU) Rome Seminar. McKeegan was selected to represent Mount Aloysius College as one of 20 Catholic institutions from across North America participating in the ACCU’s program. Together, the higher education delegation explored the legacy of the Church to strengthen and advance the mission of Catholic higher education through a series of meetings and seminars. They also had the opportunity to meet Pope Leo XIV.
It was an experience President McKeegan will never forget.
“Meeting Pope Leo was a profound honor and among the most memorable moments of my life. I was grateful for the opportunity to introduce myself on behalf of our students, faculty, staff, alumni, and the Sisters of Mercy, and to hear his reflections on the vital role of Catholic education in forming lives of faith and meaning,” shared President McKeegan.
President McKeegan shared that Pope Leo has many connections with the Sisters of Mercy – his aunt was a Sister of Mercy, and he worked closely with the order as a Bishop in Peru.
The meeting also included a personal moment that highlighted Pope Leo’s approachable nature.
“I enjoyed the opportunity to share one of our College traditions with the Holy Father by presenting him with a Mount Aloysius ‘Mountie,’ noting that ‘we both have stressful jobs, so here’s a gift from the Mount you can squeeze.’ His immediate warm laugh, which lit up the entire room, was a reminder of the joy and humanity that demonstrate authentic leadership.”
“What I’ll remember most, however, is the humble privilege of representing our College in such a special encounter. It was a moment that reinforced our mission as a Catholic institution and left me with a renewed sense of purpose and hope for the future of Catholic higher education.”
In his remarks to the group, Pope Leo shared a special message about the “noble task” of Catholic higher education in forming the lives of students. The Mount will place a strong focus on his words during the upcoming academic year.
“I would like to address a few words to you concerning the decisive importance of Catholic education in today’s world,” said Pope Leo XIV. “As young men and women come to your Colleges and Universities looking to study a specific degree, oftentimes motivated by future job perspectives, yours is the noble task of guiding that desire for knowledge so that they may also learn to seek and love the truth, to reflect on the meaning of life and to recognize the dignity of every person.”
The ACCU also presented a “Gift of Service” to Pope Leo – a commitment from the associated colleges to 5,000+ hours of service for those most in need.
Photo credit: © Vatican Media
Photo credit: © Vatican Media
