PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — The Villanova University community has been beaming since Pope Leo XIV — formerly Robert Prevost, a 1977 grad — was announced as the new leader of the Catholic Church.
Right before he entered the priesthood, Chicago native Prevost received a degree in mathematics from Villanova. Since then, he has kept close ties to his alma mater.
Father Peter Donohue, president of Villanova, said Prevost has been no stranger to campus, and he always made an effort to visit when he was in the U.S.
“We gave him an honorary degree a couple years ago, which he was present for,” Donohue said on the Today show Friday morning. “He was very involved. He was on the board of trustees for a very short amount of time when he was the provincial in the Midwest province.”
Donohue said he’s a very simple and gentle individual.
“He’s not boastful at all. He’s a very intelligent man and he loves engaging with people. I think people will be very impressed with him,” he praised.
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When his name was announced from the Vatican on Thursday, Father Kevin DiPrinzio, Villanova’s vice president of campus mission and ministry, said there was shock and euphoria throughout campus.
“The bells started ringing. The alma mater started playing on one of the chapel bells. Everybody on campus was walking around somewhat aimlessly and just hugging people,” he said, “just overcome with joy.”
In 2001, DiPrinzio was getting started in the Augustinian order in the same Midwest province where then-Father Prevost was in charge. Prevost would eventually lead the entire order.
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DiPrinzio recalled getting to know him well in Rome — then, simply known as Bob.
“My classmates and I spent a whole month over in Italy, and we spent time with him. He was our prior general and he took us out for a pizza and beer, right off of the piazza,” he laughed. “I had pizza and beer with the future pope.”
In the years that followed, DiPrinzio said Prevost always kept in touch.
“In fact, I just got an email from him on Tuesday,” he laughed, “where he signed it ‘Fraternally, Bob.’”
Leo will be formally installed as pope at a Mass at the Vatican on May 18.