Pope Francis meets with students at Catholic University in Leuven

Pope Francis met with the students of the 600-year-old Catholic University of Leuven on Saturday. A letter was read out from the university’s students and professors detailing some of the most consequential issues of our day.

Topics of the letter included social inequality, the climate crisis and the role of women within the Catholic church. It pointed to the lack of women in top positions, saying women’s intellectual contribution had been disregarded.

The pope acknowledged the concerns, praising the students’ “passion and hope” in their desire for justice and the search for truth.

On the environment, Francis said its preservation continues to be hindered by the prevalence of powerful economic interests over ecological concerns. “We are guests, not despots,” he added, calling on the students “to consider the cultivation not just of ideas, but also of the world.”

In addressing the role of women, Pope Francis stressed that “the Church is woman.” Recalling the significant role of women in the history of salvation, he reflected on the essential nature of women in the Church and society, rejecting any notion of rivalry between men and women.

He called instead for mutual respect and collaboration, rooted in dignity and shared humanity. He did not, however, mention giving women roles in church leadership.

“In the Church, men and women have been called from the beginning to love and to be loved,” he remarked.