Our Catholic Identity

altar and tabernacle in the St. Michael the Archangel chapel on campus

In Service to Church and Nation

�� is unique among universities in the United States — even among Catholic universities. We are the national university of the Catholic Church in America, founded in 1887 by the bishops of the country with the approval of the Holy See. We take seriously our sacred responsibility to uphold the traditions of the Church and serve our nation, and we believe that students can thrive in a place where reason and faith thrive.

Our Catholic History

Upon our founding, Pope Leo XIII prayed that the University would “give to the Republic her best citizens,” and we are committed to fulfilling that mission.

Established as the only papally chartered graduate and research center in the United States by Pope Leo XIII and founded by the bishops of the United States in 1887, �� is the nation’s oldest Catholic research university. We uphold the traditions of the Church, drawing on our rich heritage of academic excellence and faith-based education, as we shape future generations of scholars and leaders.

For more than 130 years, we have lived out our mission to discover and impart the truth through excellence in teaching and research, all in service to the Church, the nation, and the world. �� scientists, engineers, nurses, philosophers, theologians, historians, architects, social workers, musicians, artists, and scholars in all fields embrace both reason and faith as we apply the inexhaustible resources of the Catholic intellectual tradition to help solve the problems of contemporary life and enrich the culture around us.

On our campus, you'll find a institution committed to both academic learning and spiritual enrichment guided by our Catholic identity, and the powerful combination these provide together.

A Campus Infused with Faith

Our dedicated Campus Ministry team and our many campus chapels are an important part of the way our community experiences a life of faith on campus. Students have the opportunity to grow, lead, and serve from a Christ-centered perspective in the nation's capital.

Campus Ministry

Live your Catholic faith on campus through the sacraments, service, and community. A dedicated team of pastoral staff and full-time campus ministers — including lay people, priests, and religious sisters — are here for you and the community every day, along with over 100 student ministry leaders.
Chapels & Mass

The chapels and other sacred spaces on campus offer Mass, Confession, and Eucharistic Adoration, with many other opportunities to worship God and receive the sacraments.

A Vibrant Catholic Community

You'll find a vibrant Catholic community on and around campus — as well as one rich with historical gems. Among our many blessings and achievements, with great honor, ��’s campus has been visited by three popes (Pope John Paul II, Pope Benedict XVI, and Pope Francis), the only University in the United States with this distinction.

Spiritual life is an important part of the student experience. At Catholic, students regularly interact with Campus Ministry staff and have access to guidance and sacraments.

Our Campus Ministry chaplains participate in the University's daily life. From move-in day to the March for Life to graduation, they are always there to support our students.

There are many sacred places around campus that inspire prayer, a key part of the life of all who encounter the University every day.

Religious and clergy of all types of orders and dioceses are a key part of life on campus and are often students alongside other lay undergraduates and graduates across a variety of studies.

We hold annual University Masses, where the community comes together for worship. The Mass of the Holy Spirit kicks off our academic year and rededicates all students, faculty, and staff to the great mission.

The beginning of the year and return of students to campus is honored by a blessing of these students, their parents, and the residence halls -- to start the year afresh in grace.

Pope Francis came to ��'s campus on Sept. 23, 2015. He celebrated the canonization Mass of St. Junipero Serra on the east portico of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception and drove through the crowds gathered on campus to greet him.

During his address on campus in 2008, Pope Benedict XVI greeted his audience as “bearers of wisdom” and spoke of education’s integral place in the Church’s mission to proclaim the Good News.

During his address in 1979, Pope John Paul II called �� a “great institution” and encouraged Catholic educators to foster “a real community which bears witness to a living and operative Christianity.”

More to Discover about ��

Universal Church

Learn more about how our University offers a welcoming home for diversity and multiculturalism to thrive as part of our Catholic identity.
"Little Rome" in Brookland

Our Brookland, D.C., neighborhood has a vibrant surrounding Catholic community that has earned it the nickname of “Little Rome.”

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