VILANOVA, Pa. (AP) — When Rev. Peter Donohue, president of VILANOVA University, approached graduation as a theatre student, the future Pope studied his junior year, when he was not far away on campus.
On Thursday, after the 1977 Cardinal alumni, church bells rang for hours at a celebration at Augustine’s school near Philadelphia Robert Previst It was First Pope was elected From the United States in the history of the Catholic Church.
The school on the suburban mainline near Philadelphia has reached the pinnacle of boys’ college basketball, winning championships in 1985, 2016 and 2018.
The Philadelphia sign pointed to the Pope with the catchphrase “From the main line to the line of God” and the hashtag #wildcattoshepherd. Internet memes transformed Pope’s Roman numeral V into the Villanova logo, predicted stacked The lineup includes the New York Knicks and their Villanova He has a godly path to this year’s title. Augustine’s priest on campus plays rounds on television circuits around the country.
“We lost it,” he said last year in Rome, where he met a world leader known as his sacred Pope Leo XIV. “We’ve only got this knowledge and the screams and cheers and crying that we’ve seen him. He was humble enough and cared enough for a group of gang college students who wanted to say Mass with us.
Prevost has maintained its relationship with Villanova for decades
Donohue and the Pope were on campus in the mid-1970s at a time of uncertainty towards the end of the Vietnam War, but the Catholic Church was in a state of change. As campus was preparing for its spring 1977 graduation, thousands of balloons were released at an event aimed at dealing with World Hunger, featuring World Hunger, a Carnival and Marching Band, according to Villanovan Archives. Cassette tapes and ads for “College Disco Splash Party” are adjacent to the story in university newspapers.
According to Donohue, Prevost received a Bachelor of Mathematics degree from Villanova and a Bachelor of Mathematics degree in Mathematics, and graduated from Honoris of Humanis of Humanis Causa. Prevost also hosted Villanova officials in Rome that year. Donohue said the Pope is a Villanova basketball fan. And Donohue notes that every time he or the university sends a message, he can see who is open to them, and that the Pope does every time.
“Someone sent me a text. One of the presidents of another school said, “Three basketball championships and the Pope. Do your people have to keep winning?” ” Donohue said with a laugh. “It’s just not. It certainly gave us a lot of publicity.”
Rev. Rob Hagan, pastor of Villanova’s athletics club, served his second year in a spiritual training boot camp of sorts to become an Augustine 27 years ago. It was in Racine, Wisconsin, where Prevost was stationed and visited beginners like Hagan.
“I thought he was a kind of mentor. You didn’t have to be in his presence before you realise how bright he was,” Hagan said. “But still, coupled with true warmth and familiarity.”
The professor says Prevost has never lost its idyllic touch.
Kevin Hughes, a professor of theology and religion at Villanova, said Thursday that he and several people in his office were silent when they heard the news because they couldn’t believe Prevost (the American) had been chosen.
Hughes described Prevost as a very kind soul and someone who knows how to connect with people.
“When you’re talking to him, he gives you his full attention,” he said. “I think he’s a very intelligent person. I think he’s very well read, but he’s never lost his idyllic touch.”
Prevost, 69, was a member of Augustine’s religious order, and was previously a former general or leader. The Order of St. Augustine was formed in the 13th century as a community of “con-creating” monks. It was dedicated to poverty, service and evangelization.
The requirements and spirit of order date back to St. Augustine, the fifth century of the Hippo, one of the theological and devoted giants of early Christianity. Villanova is one of two Catholic Augustine’s higher education institutions in the United States, according to its website. Villanova is rooted in the values of truth, unity and love inspired by the teachings of St. Augustine.
Founded in 1842, Villanova boasts an environment in which students learn to think critically, act compassionately, and succeed while serving others. Approximately 6,700 undergraduates, 3,100 graduates and law students are enrolled at the university. Other well-known people who joined Villanova include former First Lady Jill Biden, actor Bradley Cooper, recording artists Jim Claus and Toby Keith, as well as basketball stars such as Knicks Jalen Branson, Josh Hart and Mikal Bridges.
However, for Catholic universities, it could not outweigh teaching the Pope.
“I think anyone who is familiar with Villanova knows the kind of emphasis we give when it comes to community and community building,” Donohue said. “I think it’s going to be part of what he is. It’s part of who he is and part of his life.”
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Mattis was reported from Nashville, Tennessee. Lisa Bauman of Seattle and Maryclair Dale of Philadelphia contributed.
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