1st Pope Leo XIV Sustainability Medal Recipient Announced by Villanova University is Canadian Cardinal Czerny

 Villanova Honors Cardinal Czerny with Inaugural Pope Leo XIV Sustainability Medal

During a Vatican press conference in the Sala San Pio X on September 14—marking Pope Leo XIV's birthday—Villanova University announced Cardinal Michael Czerny, S.J., as the inaugural recipient of the Pope Leo XIV Sustainability Medal. Czerny, Prefect Emeritus of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, was recognized for his decades of service integrating environmental care, human rights, and social justice.

Villanova—an Augustinian Catholic university in Pennsylvania and Pope Leo XIV's alma mater (B.S. in Mathematics, '77)—established the biennial award to honor holistic leadership in sustainability across environmental, economic, and social spheres.

Key Highlights & Event Details

  • Award Presentation: Pope Leo XIV will personally present the medal to Cardinal Czerny on October 13 at the Laudato Si’ Village in the Pontifical Gardens of Castel Gandolfo.

  • 2026 International Sustainability Conference: Titled "Responding to the Cries of the Earth and the Poor," the event runs October 12–15 in Rome.

  • Global Attendance: The conference will gather roughly 300 academics, church leaders, public sector officials, and researchers to bridge academic insight with actionable policy—focusing heavily on voices from the Global South.

  • Key Partners: Presented with support from the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development and the Laudato Si' Center for Higher Education.

Key Statements

"The Pope Leo XIV Sustainability Medal recognizes individuals whose leadership reflects a holistic approach to sustainability... moving from dialogue to meaningful action." — Fr. Peter Donahue, Ph.D., O.S.A., President of Villanova University

"I commend Villanova for the courage to stand up in this public way to say we pledge to serve society by preparing people to take real responsibility for the world that is coming into being." — Cardinal Michael Czerny, S.J.

The panel was moderated by Alessandro Gisotti, Deputy Editorial Director for the Dicastery for Communication, alongside Dr. Manuela Priesemuth-Payan of the Villanova School of Business and Fr. Joseph Farrell, O.S.A., Prior General of the Augustinian Order Worldwide.

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