Villanova University Students and Faculty to Embark on Pilgrimage to Rome, Engaging with the Global Synod of Bishops
Kathryn Getek Soltis, STL, PhD
VILLANOVA, Pa. (October 1, 2024) — This Fall Break, Villanova University students and faculty will travel to Rome for a special pilgrimage as part of The Church and Transformation, a course offered this semester by the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. The trip will coincide with the month-long General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, where Villanova’s cohort will join peers from 14 Catholic colleges across the U.S. to experience the global Synod on Communion, Participation and Mission.
This pilgrimage offers students a unique opportunity to witness the Synod in action, allowing them to gain a deeper understanding of the Church’s evolving role in the modern world. The Synod on Synodality, launched by Pope Francis in 2021, is a global initiative aimed at fostering inclusiveness, dialogue and participation within the Church. The Villanova delegation—comprised of 16 undergraduate and two graduate students, along with two faculty members—will attend during a significant moment of the Synodal process, which began in October 2021 and concludes with a gathering of bishops in October 2024.
The Church and Transformation course, taught by Kathryn Getek Soltis, STL, PhD, and Jaisy Joseph, PhD, from Theology and Religious Studies, focuses on the balance between tradition and change within the Church’s history. The course highlights the important role laypeople play in promoting change on critical issues like nonviolence, environmental justice and peacebuilding.
Jaisy Joseph, PhD
“This interdisciplinary course is one of the College’s embedded travel courses, which provides an opportunity for students to spend a week abroad and gain a deeper and more immediate understanding of the subject matter they are learning in the classroom,” said Adele Lindenmeyr, William and Julia Moulden Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. “This course is a reflection of the College’s commitment to helping students develop a global perspective, and I am grateful to the dedicated faculty who have worked collaboratively with University and regional colleagues to make this possible for our students.”
While in Rome, Villanova students will engage with global thought leaders to explore the concept of "synodality"—a model of shared leadership and participation within the Church. This hands-on experience will help students connect classroom discussions with real-world events, offering a front-row seat to history in the making.
“Having our students participate firsthand in the Synod helps them deepen their connection with Villanova’s Augustinian Catholic mission,” said the Rev. Kevin M. DePrinzio, OSA, PhD, Vice President for Mission and Ministry. “As St. Augustine teaches, ‘When you go out, walk together, and when you arrive, stay together.’ This spirit of community is at the heart of the synodal journey, both physically and spiritually.”
Villanova’s involvement also highlights its support for the two U.S. college students who will be among the 363 voting delegates offering recommendations to Pope Francis. The group will explore how prioritizing youth—a key theme of the Synod—can help answer the question posed to delegates: how can we become co-responsible for the mission of the Church?
During the pilgrimage, Villanovans will take part in teach-ins, communal prayers, participatory art, guided tours and attendance at Pope Francis’ General Audience. They will also meet with Synod delegates and Church leaders, thanks to partnerships with organizations such as the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities, the Union of Superior Generals, the Lay Center and the Community of Sant'Egidio.
About Villanova University: Since 1842, Villanova University’s Augustinian Catholic intellectual tradition has been the cornerstone of an academic community in which students learn to think critically, act compassionately and succeed while serving others. There are more than 10,000 undergraduate, graduate and law students in the University's six colleges—the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, the Villanova School of Business, the College of Engineering, the M. Louise Fitzpatrick College of Nursing, the College of Professional Studies and the Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law. Ranked among the nation’s top universities, Villanova supports its students’ intellectual growth and prepares them to become ethical leaders who create positive change everywhere life takes them. For more, visit www.villanova.edu.