Villanova University will hold a press conference on September 14 to announce the inaugural recipient of the Pope Leo XIV Sustainability Medal. The event, taking place in the Sala San Pio X of the Vatican, will also highlight the upcoming 2026 Villanova University International Sustainability Conference, “Responding to the Cries of the Earth and the Poor.”
Villanova University will hold a press conference on Monday, September 14, from 12:00 to 1:30 p.m. CEST (6:00 to 7:30 a.m. ET), to announce the inaugural recipient of the Pope Leo XIV Sustainability Medal.
The event, taking place in the Sala San Pio X (S. Pio X Hall) of the Vatican, will also highlight the upcoming 2026 Villanova University International Sustainability Conference, “Responding to the Cries of the Earth and the Poor.” Representatives from Villanova University and the Holy See will come together to discuss the Medal and the conference, which will focus on some of today’s most pressing environmental and social challenges.
Taking part in the event will be Cardinal Michael Czerny, SJ, Prefect Emeritus of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development; The Rev. Peter M. Donohue, OSA, PhD, President of Villanova University; and Manuela Priesemuth-Payan, PhD, Villanova Faculty Director for Ethics and Social Responsibility, Villanova School of Business. The press conference will be moderated by Alessandro Gisotti, Vice Director Editorial of the Dicastery for Communication.
During the event, Villanova University will unveil the vision behind the new Medal and reveal the identity of its inaugural recipient. It will also preview the upcoming 2026 Villanova University International Sustainability Conference, “Responding to the Cries of the Earth and the Poor.” Pope Leo XIV will officially present the Medal on October 13 at Borgo Laudato Si’ in the Pontifical Gardens of Castel Gandolfo, during the Conference.
About the Pope Leo XIV Sustainability Medal
The Pope Leo XIV Sustainability Medal is intended as an enduring recognition of individuals from any field or discipline whose leadership reflects a holistic approach to sustainability. Laureates are selected for work that integrates care for the environment, social justice, protection of vulnerable communities, and responsible economic stewardship.
Presented every two years during the Villanova University International Sustainability Conference, the Medal seeks to inspire leadership, encourage innovation and promote collaboration in building a more just and sustainable world.
Villanova University, an Augustinian Catholic institution, shares a special connection with the Holy Father. Pope Leo XIV, then Robert Prevost, earned a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from Villanova in 1977, and the University later awarded him an honorary Doctor of Humanities degree in 2014.
About the 2026 Villanova University International Sustainability Conference
The 2026 Villanova University International Sustainability Conference, “Responding to the Cries of the Earth and the Poor”, will bring together approximately 300 academics, researchers, Church representatives, foundations, and leaders from the public and private sectors in Rome from Oct. 12–15. The Conference is presented with the support of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development and the Laudato Si’ Center for Higher Education (Centro di Alta Formazione Laudato si’).
Grounded in the convergence of ecological degradation and social inequality, the conference will foster interdisciplinary collaboration and explore how research, ethics and lived experience can contribute to more just and sustainable communities. On Oct. 13, participants will gather for a morning program and lunch at the Augustinianum in Rome before traveling to Borgo Laudato si’ in the Pontifical Gardens of Castel Gandolfo for a visit and the inaugural presentation of the Pope Leo XIV Sustainability Medal.
