Happy Birthday, Gregorian!

Today marks the founding of the world’s first Jesuit university, the Gregorian, in 1551. Originally named the Roman College, it was raised to university status in 1553. The university’s great patron was Pope Gregory XIII (1572-1585), who gave a new building and endowment to the school, which was renamed in his honor. When the Society of Jesus was suppressed (1773-1814), diocesan clergy ran the Gregorian. The Jesuits resumed charge of the school after the restoration. Under Blessed Pope Pius IX (1846-1878), the Gregorian was made a pontifical university. Today the Gregorian University includes six faculties and four institutes, and is located in four palazzos in the area around Piazza della Pilotta.Its alumni include 72 saints and blessed, 17 popes, nearly one fifth of the world’s bishops, and about a third of the current College of Cardinals. Today its nearly four thousand students, clerical and lay, represent over 150 countries.