Villanova Establishes Pope Leo XIV Sustainability Medal

Villanova University has established the Pope Leo XIV Sustainability Medal, a new international honor that will recognize individuals whose leadership has advanced sustainability, ecological responsibility, and integral human development. The inaugural medal will be presented by the Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV, during the Villanova International Sustainability Conference in Rome this October 2026.

“The Pope Leo XIV Sustainability Medal reflects a deeply held belief at Villanova University: that care for our common home and care for one another are inseparable,” said Villanova University President the Rev. Peter M. Donohue, OSA, PhD. “By recognizing leaders whose work advances both environmental stewardship and the common good, we hope to inspire meaningful and lasting impact in communities around the world.”

The event is developed in close dialogue with key institutional partners, including the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development and the Laudato Si' Center for Higher Education.