Back in 2008, speaking to a crowd gathered at The Catholic University of America, Pope Benedict said “first and foremost, every Catholic educational institution is a place to encounter the living God, who in Jesus Christ reveals His transforming love and truth.”
As Pope Benedict identified, younger Catholics who are growing up in a very secular culture, need easy access to education which showcases the unalterable truth about God and Catholic life. This is especially pertinent as the Church prepares for the Vatican Synod on Young People, the Faith and Vocational Discernment which will take place in October of this year.
Following his address at The Catholic University of America, Patrick Reilly, the president of The Newman Society, presented Pope Benedict with the inaugural copy of The Newman Guide as a way of thanking him for his contribution to inspiring it.
The Newman Guide is a yearly publication created by The Cardinal Newman Society which assists high school students in finding a Catholic college or university to attend upon graduation.
The Catholic institutions selected for The Newman Guide embody Pope Benedict’s belief that Catholic Education is “integral to the mission of the Church to proclaim the good news so that each and every aspect of your learning communities reverberates within the ecclesial life of faith.”
Watch Pope Benedict’s 2008 speech at The Catholic University of America: