President Slepitza Reflects on Papal Visit with The Catholic Key

Avila University President Ronald A. Slepitza was recently interviewed regarding the historic Papal visit of Pope Benedict XVI. President Slepitza was among a group of Catholic college and university presidents who attended an audience with the Pontiff. Below are some of President Slepitza’s remarks.

“I was struck by how the pope affirmed the importance of preparing students not simply through the liturgy, sacraments and acts of prayer, but also through acts of charity, concern for justice and respect for God’s creation. It was an affirmation of the commitment of Avila as an institution founded by the Sisters of Saint Joseph of Carondelet to serve the dear neighbor without distinction, to be in right relationship with God and watch other, and to respect, protect and be in right relationship with creation. “

“I appreciate the Pontiff’s comments about today’s youth and the importance of helping them to entrust themselves to God, to ‘opt in,’ finding the authentic freedom to be who god intended them to be.”

“I think the pope was encouraging us to act boldly on a most important mission and ministry which can only happen through us as Catholic educators. I believe he was encouraging us to see this as work most holy. I especially appreciated his last message to us: to bear witness to hope, to nourish this hope through prayer and to live this witness to the truth before our students thus modeling for them the love and joy encountered through service to God.”

- published Friday May 2, 2007