Oriel College delegation meets Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican

Pope Leo XIV received a delegation from Oxford University’s Oriel College at the Vatican on September 4, 2026. The 20-member group is visiting Rome to commemorate the 700th anniversary of the college’s royal charter, which was granted by King Edward II in 1326.

During the audience, the Pope highlighted the institution’s historical identity as the ‘University of the Blessed Virgin Mary’ and its enduring connection to its Catholic roots. He specifically invoked the legacy of Saint John Henry Newman, a former fellow of the college, as a model for modern academics.

The Pontiff described Newman as a brilliant scholar who demonstrated the inseparability of faith and reason. He urged academics to ‘seek the truth courageously’ and advocated for an educational approach that embraces the whole person, measuring success through the lenses of human dignity, justice, and service to the common good.