Pope’s Alma Mater Reveal First Pope Leo XIV Sustainability Medal Recipient
Deborah Castellano Lubov
Volume 41 Issue 7, 8, & 9 | Posted: October 3, 2026
The winner of the first-ever Pope Leo XIV Sustainability Medal is Cardinal Michael Czerny, S.J., Prefect Emeritus of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, in recognition of his decades of “remarkable service” and as “a leader whose life reflects the very best of what this medal represents.”
This was revealed by the President of Villanova University, Fr. Peter Donohue, Ph.D., O.S.A. on Monday during a press conference hosted by the university on September 14 in the Vatican’s Sala San Pio X, down the street from St. Peter’s Square, to announce the inaugural recipient of the Medal.
Alongside the University President at the conference were Cardinal Czerny and Dr. Manuela Priesemuth-Payan, Ph.D., Faculty Director for Ethics and Social Responsibility at Villanova School of Business, and Alessandro Gisotti, Deputy Director Editorial of the Dicastery for Communication, who moderated.
Villanova University is an Augustinian Catholic institution located near Philadelphia in the United States, where Pope Leo XIV, then Robert Prevost, earned a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics in 1977. The University later awarded him an honorary Doctor of Humanities degree in 2014.
Alessandro Gisotti opened the event by recalling that all were gathered on this special day, as September 14 marks the birthday of Pope Leo, reflecting on how it is a gift to be discussing these themes important to him.
Recalling that the Prior General of the Augustinian Order Worldwide, Fr. Joseph Farrell, O.S.A., was in attendance, Mr. Gisotti observed that Fr. Farrell’s presence underlines the great Augustinian inspiration behind the events being discussed today.
Deborah Castellano Lubov