For a greater Loyola | Loyola University New Orleans Since 1923 | Oct. 4, 2024 | Issue 6 | loyolamaroon.com
OCCURRENS MENTIUM
By Mabel Regalado-Hernandez maregala@my.loyno.edu
As students wrapped up their summer and settled back on campus, President Xavier Cole had his own story to tell about his summer: the chance to meet Pope Francis. Cole and his wife, Susanne DeBerry Cole, went to Rome for a seminar with the Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities along with other Jesuit University presidents. “We thought we'd just see him for a few minutes, but we found out when we
got [to the basilica] that we were going to have almost close to an hour,” Cole said. Cole said the experience fostered conversation between academic leaders. “Our job as educators is to help our students understand context, to be informed about the issues, about the conversations for us to build spaces for conversations,” Cole said. “Where we can hear each other and talk through our differences, but also find some common ground because we are a community and we need to be in community.” Members of the group had the op-
portunity to ask the Pope a question. Cole asked him what guidance he has for leaders in Catholic higher education to address the issues in Gaza and how universities can create spaces of trust for authentic conversations that don’t end in anger. According to Cole, the Pope responded with a thoughtful 15-minute response, mentioning that he has a daily scheduled call with the provincial in Gaza who represents the Jesuits there. Cole said the Pope stated the call is part of his efforts to offer support, clarity, and a sense of peace regarding the situation, with the hope of ending the war. Cole
said the work is difficult; it was never meant to be easy. As Cole’s time asking questions with the Pope came to an end, the Pope closed their meeting with something that Cole said made him emotional. “He did something completely unexpected, he said, ‘Well, I know our time is coming to a close. Would you like to pray the Our Father together?’" Cole said his heart was struck by this simple question.
See POPE, p.2
Scan code for video interview with President Cole