SYNODAL ENCOUNTERS OF POPE FRANCIS WITH UNIVERSITY STUDENTS FROM AROUND THE WORLD

Pope Francis called the entire Roman Catholic Church to undertake a global process of shared discernment. This was the Synod on Synodality 2021–2024.

Inspired by this call, Loyola University Chicago, together with the Pontifical Commission for Latin America (PCAL), launched the Building Bridges (BBI) project: a series of student-centered events organized by the university. Through this initiative, the creation of student groups across broad geographic regions was facilitated and accompanied, enabling them to listen, dialogue, and discern together.

Representatives of these groups met with Pope Francis virtually and through live-streamed events, where they shared and discussed with him the experiences and hopes of their communities.

Four encounters between university students and Pope Francis were held: in the Americas, in Africa, in South Asia, and in Asia-Pacific.

The Building Bridges Initiative: Loyola University Chicago/PCAL

BUILDING NORTH–SOUTH BRIDGES ACROSS THE AMERICAS

February 2022. Synodal encounter of university students with Pope Francis, organized by Loyola University Chicago in collaboration with the Holy See.

Building Bridges Across the Americas. LUC

BUILDING BRIDGES ACROSS AFRICA

November 2022. Synodal encounter of university students with Pope Francis, organized by the Pan-African Catholic Theology and Pastoral Network and a professor from the Center for World Catholicism and Intercultural Theology at DePaul University, with the support of Loyola University Chicago, in collaboration with the Holy See.

Building Bridges Across Africa. LUC

BUILDING BRIDGES ACROSS SOUTH ASIA

September 2023. Synodal encounter of university students with Pope Francis, with the participation of students from Loyola Hall Research and Spirituality Centre (Lahore, Pakistan), Christ University (Bengaluru, India), St. Xavier's College (Kathmandu, Nepal), St. Stephen's College (Delhi, India), Loyola College (Autonomous) (Chennai, India), and St. Joseph's University (Bengaluru, India), promoted by Loyola University Chicago in collaboration with the Holy See.

Building Bridges Across South Asia. LUC

BUILDING BRIDGES ACROSS ASIA–PACIFIC

June 2024. Synodal encounter of university students with Pope Francis. Participating universities included Ateneo de Manila University (Manila, Philippines), Australian Catholic University (Brisbane, Australia), Fu Jen Catholic University (Taipei, Taiwan), Sogang University (Seoul, South Korea), Sophia University (Tokyo, Japan), and Universitas Sanata Dharma (Yogyakarta, Indonesia). The encounter was promoted by Loyola University Chicago, in collaboration with the Holy See.

Building Bridges Across Asia–Pacific. LUC