Maria College President Meets Pope Francis at ACCU Rome Seminar
Thursday, June 27, 2024 -- Maria College President Dr. Lynn Ortale was recently part of a 12-institution delegation of presidents of Catholic colleges and universities to attend a weeklong Rome Seminar in May.
Sponsored by the Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities (ACCU) and held bi-annually, the Rome Seminar provides “presidents, senior administrators, and faculty leaders at ACCU member institutions a firsthand opportunity to explore the intellectual and spiritual legacy of the Catholic Church in order to strengthen and promote the mission of Catholic higher education.”
“Participants also serve as ambassadors to Rome,” said Dr. Ortale. Fr. Dennis Holschneider, president of ACCU, led the contingent of presidents from Seton Hall University, Xavier University of Louisiana, Aquinas College, Regis University, Saint Mary’s College, and Saint Paul University, among others.
Dr. Ortale said the group’s standout moment was a one-hour private audience with Pope Francis, followed by questions. During the meeting Pope Francis emphasized that education transcends intellectual pursuits, encompassing the heart and practical actions as well.
“He stressed that educating the mind influences both the heart and the hands, and similarly, the hands, our work, inform one’s heart and mind,” said Dr. Ortale. “This dynamic interplay of intellect, emotion, and action was a significant takeaway.”
During her time in Italy’s Lazio region, Dr. Ortale was among just 350 visitors that week to explore the St. Peter’s Tomb Excavation. In addition, “We were fortunate to attend a private Mass at St. Peter’s resting place, beneath St. Peter's Basilica, an exceedingly rare opportunity,” she said.
Dr. Ortale met with Sister Nathalie Becquart, X.M.C.J., Under-Secretary of the General Secretariat of the Synod of Bishops, currently in session, as well as key leaders from various Dicasteries: Cardinal José Tolentino de Mendonça, Prefect, Dicastery for Culture and Education; Sr. Simona Brambilla, M.C., Secretary, DICLSAL; and, Sr. Patricia Murray, IBVM., Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life.
“We also prayed with the Holy Father at the Wednesday General Audience in St. Peter’s Square,” she noted. "We visited the home of St. Ignatius Loyola and the Chiesa del Gesù, the Jesuit cathedral where St. Ignatius and Fr. Pedro Arrupe are buried, and we visited the Gregorian University.”
Additionally, Dr. Ortale gained insights into the inner workings of the Vatican and met with a diverse array of religious leaders, including Joseph Donnelly, Sr., the US Ambassador to the Holy See; Sister Raffaella Petrini, secretary general of Vatican City; and, Delia Gallagher, senior editor at Inside the Vatican and longtime CNN correspondent.
Always eager to promote Maria College, Dr. Ortale brought the college’s mini-Monarch mascot along on her travels, capturing numerous photo opportunities. One memorable snapshot was taken at baggage claim in Rome, where she crossed paths with legendary Hall of Fame NFL quarterback Terry Bradshaw, who was on her flight to Italy.
“Being part of this trip was a once-in-a-lifetime honor,” she said. “It’s something that I’ll never forget!”
About Maria College
Founded in 1958, Maria College is one of 17 colleges and universities in the United States sponsored by the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas. The private, co-educational, Catholic college in Albany serves approximately 800 students in a variety of bachelor, associate and master’s degrees, and certificate programs including liberal arts, healthcare management, nursing, psychology, occupational therapy, and health and occupational sciences. To learn more, visit MariaCollege.edu.