Catholic Theological Union at Chicago

Summer@CTU Course Highlight - The Opening of the New Pontificate of Leo XIV: Magnifica Humanitas and Dilexi Te

The election of Pope Leo XIV is already shaping the theological and pastoral imagination of the Church. Following his election on May 8, 2025, Pope Leo XIV released his first Apostolic Exhortation, Dilexi Te, a text begun under Pope Francis and completed under his guidance. Now, with the publication of his first encyclical, Magnifica Humanitas, a clearer vision of his pontificate is emerging.

Especially significant is the encyclical’s engagement with artificial intelligence, technological change, and the future of human dignity in a rapidly evolving world. Introduced publicly on Memorial Day alongside leading AI scholars and experts from around the globe, Magnifica Humanitas signals the Church’s commitment to entering one of the defining conversations of our time.

This summer seminar will offer a close reading of both Dilexi Te and Magnifica Humanitas, exploring Pope Leo XIV’s developing vision of justice, mercy, social responsibility, human dignity, technology, and Christian hope.

Participants will engage contemporary questions surrounding AI, ethics, labor, culture, consciousness, and the future of the human community through the lens of Catholic social teaching.

Join the conversation at this pivotal moment for the Church and the wider world.

Explore the course and details today: ctu.edu/summer-ctu

Congratulations to the Class of 2026!

We are proud to welcome our newest graduates into the Catholic Theological Union alumni family. May you continue to lead with courage, faith, and compassion in your communities and throughout the world.

Catholic Theological Union is honored to confer the degree of Doctor of Theology, honoris causa, upon Dr. Mary Clark Moschella, Roger J. Squire Professor of Pastoral Care and Counseling at Yale Divinity School, during tomorrow’s commencement ceremony.

A leading voice in pastoral theology, Dr. Moschella’s groundbreaking scholarship and commitment to compassionate, transformative ministry reflect CTU’s mission of contextual theology, interculturality, and faithful service to the Church and the world.

Read the full press release:https://ctu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Mary-Clark-Moschella_Press-Release.pdf

Dr. Vanessa White and Dr. Christina Zaker recently led CTU students on a Racial Justice Pilgrimage to Alabama, where they visited sacred sites of the U.S. Civil Rights Movement and learned about key figures in the ongoing fight for racial justice.

More than a class trip, this pilgrimage was a spiritual journey and an opportunity for deeper reflection, transformation, and encounter through sacred spaces and the stories of holy and courageous people.

We are grateful to the facilitators and students who participated in this powerful and meaningful experience.

One year ago today, the world welcomed Pope Leo XIV.

CTU is proud to be part of his story. Our own president, Fr. Enzo Del Brocco, CP, reflects on this historic pontificate in a new piece for U.S. Catholic, exploring how Pope Leo's formation in Chicago, his Augustinian roots, his years as a missionary in Peru, and his deep commitment to human dignity have shaped a leader for these times.

"Leo is, in a real sense, a son of Chicago and of a church marked by immigrant faith, urban complexity, racial tension, and pastoral resilience."

Read the full reflection here: https://uscatholic.org/articles/202605/a-multi-faceted-papacy-pope-leo-xiv-one-year-in/

One year ago today, Catholic Theological Union alumnus Cardinal Robert Prevost, OSA was elected Pope Leo XIV, a moment of profound significance for our institution and for the global Church.

In the hours that followed, the CTU community mobilized with purpose: coordinating with the Augustinian community, fielding media inquiries from around the world, and gathering prayer intentions that were later personally delivered to Pope Leo XIV at his installation by then-President Sr. Barbara Reid, OP.

It was a testament to CTU's enduring mission, forming men and women for ministry at the intersection of faith, scholarship, and global community.

We are deeply honored that Pope Leo XIV is a CTU alumnus, and we continue to hold him in prayer as he serves the universal Church.

As one CTU alum reflected: "I am at home with Pope Leo XIV. I believe God has blessed us with a multicultural holy Father, a man with a missionary's heart and a universal vision. May God continue to work through Pope Leo."

This June, CTU is inviting you into a summer that goes beyond the classroom. Join our renowned faculty and distinguished visiting professors for courses and workshops that engage the pressing questions shaping theology and ministry today, whether you're enrolling for credit or joining as an auditor. This is your season to think deeper, engage more fully, and grow in ways that last. Explore course listings and details: ctu.edu/summer-ctu

Summer @ CTU | Catholic Theological Union

Cardinal Cupich: Peace is not absence of war but work of justice

Cardinal Cupich has been awarded Catholic Theological Union’s “Blessed are the Peacemakers” award.

In a speech at the April 29 prize ceremony, the cardinal quoted Pope Leo XIV’s homily for Palm Sunday this year, in which he said that Jesus “does not listen to the prayers of those who wage war, but rejects them.”
Full story: https://www.chicagocatholic.com/web/chicago-catholic//Chicagoland/-/article/2026/04/30/cardinal-cupich-peace-is-not-absence-of-war-but-work-of-justice

via Vatican News