Since the publication of Pope Francis’ encyclical Laudato Si’ in 2015, the Catholic Church has placed integral ecology at the heart of its response to climate change, linking care for creation with the protection of human life and dignity.  

Villanova University in Pennsylvania, where Pope Leo XIV earned a degree in mathematics, is carrying that mission forward. This year, the University established the Pope Leo XIV Sustainability Medal, which the Holy Father will present at Castel Gandolfo on October 13.  

The winner has already been presented by the Vatican as Cardinal Michael Czerny, the former prefect of the dicastery for promoting integral human development. 

EWTN News correspondent Paola Arriaza Flynn spoke with Father John Abubakar, Villanova University’s Chief Sustainability Officer, about the University’s commitment to integral ecology and the vision behind the new award. 

The Office for Sustainability at Villanova University, he explained, is a university-wide initiative that helps, you know, to drive the vision of the university. We have a 2020 to 2030 vision where we want to attain carbon neutrality. We have some initiatives which the office promotes and then others that the office helps to coordinate with the help of other sustainable engineering departments. So, in very simple terms, it’s a coordinating office that is helping to collect data across the different departments and sectors of the university to ensure that we fulfil our commitment to carbon neutrality. 

Can you give us an example of that? 

For instance, the office is spearheading six initiatives, which we call SPRING. It’s an acronym. So, ‘Race to Zero Waste’ is one of the initiatives where we take very seriously making sure that our offices generate zero waste. 

And another initiative now is the Villanova University Sustainability Medal. It will be delivered by, presented by Pope Leo XIV on October 13th, and this will happen in Rome. What is the purpose of this award? 

So, this is a new international honour that Villanova has established to recognize leaders across different segments of sustainability who have contributed immensely in promoting a response to the cry of the poor and also a response to the cry of the earth. And our contribution might be bringing in the concept of integral ecology, which is very much known within the Catholic circle and not very much known within corporate life. So basically, it’s to just share the idea that, look, care or concern for the environment cannot be separated from concern for the poor and the vulnerable. 

Is this based in Laudato Si? 

Absolutely. And it’s also very much at the heart of Catholic social teachings, because when you think about option for the poor, it has to do with our concrete obligation to supporting the poor. It’s very much part of our Catholic social teaching. And then when you think about Genesis, at creation, our responsibility to care for the earth. So, they go together and you cannot separate one from the other. 

How do you select each candidate? What is the profile? What are the criteria you need for this? 

We have actually two committees, a nomination committee and a selection committee. However, for this first edition, because of time constraint, we decided to do it internally. But for the next edition, hopefully in 2028, we have the nomination committee, which will be comprised of Villanova students. We want our students to be very much part of what we are doing, as well as staff and faculty. They will look at different aspects from leadership, contribution, impact, a number of metrics that are somehow technical to explain within this interview. So, once they shortlist the candidates, then the selection committee will then go to work. And at the moment we have Prince Albert of Monaco who has accepted to be the chair of the selection committee. 

Can we see that link between the care for the poor and the care for creation in this pontificate? 

Absolutely. So, in my view, when you think about his major international travels, I think his longest trip so far has been to Africa where he spent 10 days, and when you think about the choice of the countries, Algeria, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinee, you know, these are small African countries, in my view, he is trying to show his preferential option for the poor because, you know, anywhere the pope goes, he tries to draw attention to what is happening there.  

Finally, what do you think Catholics all over the world should do to join Pope Leo in this effort for the care of creation? 

I think of it more like in the church, you know, where people do small things like some clean the church, some serve at Mass, some read, you know, the small gestures coming together. So, no effort is too small in terms of making an impact or making a difference. So, I hope that the medal, the writings, the advocacy of Pope Leo will encourage every colleague to do something no matter how small, in helping to make the world a better place.