On the afternoon of Monday, 7 October, the Holy Mass for the Inauguration of the Academic Year 2024-2025, the 474rd since the foundation of the Roman College, was celebrated at the Church of St. Ignatius in Campo Marzio. Rector Fr. Mark Lewis S.J. based his homily on the figure of St. Francis of Assisi, patron saint of Italy, inviting the entire university community to join in prayer to accompany the opening of the Synod on the Synodal Church. The solemn celebration-"first official act as an integrated university," as recalled by Rector Mark Lewis S.J.-was presided over by the Rev. Fr. Arturo Sosa S.J., Vice Grand Chancellor of the Pontifical Gregorian University and Superior General of the Society of Jesus.

In his homily, Fr. Sosa took up the Pauline image of the body made up of many members (1 Cor. 12) and applied it to the reality of our University: "The journey of the Gregorian University in this new configuration offers the possibility of making St. Paul's vision as authentic as ever. Not only in the convergence of so many people, living different states of life, to make authentic the Missions of research and teaching entrusted by the Pontiffs to the Society of Jesus over the centuries, but now also in the close collaboration, as members of one body, of the different institutions that have responded in their own autonomy to these Missions."

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• Read the Vice Gran Chancellor's Homily