Pope Leo XIV will personally present a new international sustainability award named in his honour as Villanova University unveiled the Pope Leo XIV Sustainability Medal to celebrate global leaders driving environmental protection and human development.
The medal will be presented for the first time during the 2026 Villanova International Sustainability Conference, scheduled for October 12 to 15 in Rome and Castel Gandolfo, Italy.
Announcing the initiative, Villanova University’s Chief Sustainability Officer, Prof. John Abubakar, said the award is aimed at recognising individuals whose work has significantly advanced ecological responsibility, social justice and integral human development.
According to him, the medal reflects the university’s commitment to promoting leadership that protects the environment while improving the dignity and well-being of people.
He explained that the award would honour individuals from all sectors, including government, business, academia, civil society and the Church, whose contributions have made a measurable impact on building a more sustainable and equitable world.
“The goal is to recognise and celebrate leaders who are turning ideas into practical solutions that improve lives and protect our common home,” Abubakar said.
Villanova University said the award draws inspiration from Catholic social teaching and the vision of integral ecology championed in Pope Francis’ encyclical Laudato Si’, which links environmental protection with the fight against poverty and social injustice.
The university added that the winner of the inaugural award will be announced in September 2026 ahead of the presentation ceremony, which will be presided over by Pope Leo XIV at Borgo Laudato Si’ in Castel Gandolfo.
Villanova University President, Fr. Peter M. Donohue, said the medal reflects the institution’s belief that caring for the planet and caring for humanity are inseparable.
“The Pope Leo XIV Sustainability Medal reflects a deeply held belief at Villanova University: that care for our common home and care for one another are inseparable,” he said.
The honour also has a personal significance for the Pontiff, who graduated from Villanova University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics in 1977 before receiving an honorary Doctor of Humanities degree from the institution in 2014.
The medal will be awarded every two years as part of Villanova University’s long-term commitment to promoting global sustainability and climate action.
The conference, expected to attract about 300 participants from around the world, is being organised in partnership with the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development and the Laudato Si’ Center for Higher Education.
Cardinal Fabio Baggio welcomed the initiative, saying it would honour individuals whose lives demonstrate the close link between protecting creation and promoting human dignity.
Prof. Abubakar added that the initiative would place special emphasis on practical innovations in housing, the built environment, ecology and institutional management, with the aim of encouraging real-world solutions to global environmental challenges.
