The Holy Father receives the Board of Governors of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem

The Holy Father received the Board of Governors of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem in the Consistory Hall on 18 June 2026, urging academic communities to be instruments of peace and mutual understanding.

He described universities as vital places of encounter where students and scholars from diverse backgrounds grow in knowledge, form friendships, and learn to engage respectfully across differences. In a world beset by violence and distrust, his Holiness said, these communities can model “true peace” — unarmed, disarming, humble, and persevering — and work to turn dialogue into reconciliation.

Drawing on Scripture and Saint Augustine, he stressed that peace begins within individuals: those who wish to draw others to peace must first cultivate it themselves. The address closed with a blessing for the Board members and their families, and a call for all universities to continue forming leaders committed to wisdom, harmony, and the common good.

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