Pope Leo XIV via the Vatican:

Indeed, at a time when many in the world seem to be losing their spiritual and ethical points of reference, finding themselves imprisoned in individualism, superficiality and hypocrisy, the university stands out as a privileged place of friendship, cooperation and, at the same time, of interiority and reflection….

The greatness of a nation cannot be measured solely by the abundance of its natural resources, nor even by the material wealth of its institutions. No society, in fact, can flourish unless it is grounded in upright consciences, formed in the truth. In this sense, the motto of your university — “In the service of truth and justice” — reminds you that the human conscience, understood as the inner sanctuary where men and women discover themselves drawn by the voice of God, is the very ground upon which just and stable foundations for every society must be laid. To form consciences that are free and endowed with a holy restlessness is a necessary condition for the Christian faith to appear as a fully human proposal. Such a faith is capable of transforming the lives of individuals and of society, of inspiring prophetic change in the face of the tragedies and forms of poverty of our time, and of encouraging a continual search for God that is never satisfied….

It is precisely in this sphere that the Catholic university is called to assume a responsibility of the highest order. For it does not merely transmit specialized knowledge, but shapes minds capable of discernment and hearts ready for love and service. Above all, it prepares future leaders, public officials, professionals and other actors in society to carry out with integrity the responsibilities entrusted to them, to exercise their duties with uprightness and to situate their activity within an ethical framework at the service of the common good….

Spiritual and human accompaniment constitutes an essential dimension of the identity of the Catholic university. Through spiritual formation, the initiatives of campus pastoral ministry and moments of reflection, students are invited to deepen their interior life and to orient their engagement in society in the light of authentic and enduring values. In this way, dear students, you learn to become builders of the future of your respective countries and of a world that is more just and humane.