When Amy Novak, EdD, stood in the presence of Pope Leo XIV, she brought with her the history, mission, and future of two Catholic universities being called into deeper partnership.
As president and CEO of St. Ambrose University and Mount Mercy University, and chair of the Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities, Novak was in Rome as part of the ACCU Rome Seminar. During a private audience with His Holiness Pope Leo XIV on June 3, she had the rare opportunity to greet the leader of the Roman Catholic Church and reflect with him on a connection close to the heart of St. Ambrose: the vital role Saint Ambrose of Milan played in the formation of Saint Augustine.
“He chuckled,” Novak recalled. “‘Yes,’ he said, ‘Saint Ambrose definitely made Saint Augustine a better man. We Augustinians owe a debt of gratitude to Saint Ambrose!’”
The exchange was lighthearted, but deeply meaningful. Saint Ambrose is credited with baptizing Saint Augustine, one of the most influential theologians in the history of the Church. For Novak, the moment brought together the personal, spiritual, and institutional dimensions of her vocation as a Catholic university leader.
“It was a moment of deep humility, wonder, and gratitude,” Novak said. “Pope Leo’s presence was steady and deeply peaceful. His thoughtful countenance, wisdom, and inner calm were not only evident, but beautiful. In a world marked by so much noise, speed, and uncertainty, he carried a quiet strength that reminded me of the profound grace and responsibility of Catholic leadership.”
Novak’s meeting with Pope Leo came at a defining moment for St. Ambrose and Mount Mercy. As the two Catholic institutions move through a historic integration, Novak has led the effort to build a stronger future rooted not simply in shared operations, but in shared mission. The work brings together the Ambrosian and Mercy traditions in service of a larger vision for Catholic higher education: forming students who seek truth, honor human dignity, serve the common good, and become who they are meant to be.
That vision was reinforced by Pope Leo in his address to the ACCU delegation. Speaking to leaders of Catholic colleges and universities, he emphasized the essential role of Catholic education in forming the whole person and cultivating a passion for truth.
“Unless Catholic education instills in students a true passion for the truth – and not only intellectual truth, but the Truth that is Christ himself – we can hardly expect people to be willing to put forth the effort required to recognize truth and adapt one’s life accordingly. Indeed, Catholic institutions are called to be a living environment in which the Christian vision permeates every discipline and every interaction,” Pope Leo said.
For Novak, those words spoke directly to the work underway at St. Ambrose and Mount Mercy.
“His call to Catholic institutions to become living environments where the Christian vision permeates every discipline and every interaction felt especially meaningful for the work before us at St. Ambrose and Mount Mercy,” Novak said.
The pope also addressed the rise of artificial intelligence and the responsibility of Catholic institutions to help students engage new technologies while remaining grounded in the dignity of the human person.
“That message speaks directly to the distinctive role of Catholic higher education today,” Novak said. “Our institutions must help students remain deeply human, formed not only for technical competence, but for moral imagination, reverence for human dignity, and responsibility for the common good.”
During the private audience, Novak, serving as chair of ACCU, joined Tom Evans, ACCU vice chair, and ACCU President Donna Carroll in presenting Pope Leo with a gift of service from Catholic college and university presidents. Participating presidents pledged at least 5,000 hours of service in support of those in need, a reflection of Catholic higher education’s commitment to communities, human dignity, and the formation of leaders dedicated to the good of others.
“It is a remarkable privilege to serve as chair of the Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities and to greet the Holy Father on behalf of our 230 member institutions,” Novak said. “To represent Catholic colleges and universities across the country in that moment was both humbling and deeply affirming.”
For Novak, the experience in Rome renewed both her faith and her confidence in the future of Catholic higher education. It also affirmed the significance of the path St. Ambrose and Mount Mercy are walking together – a path shaped by faith, strengthened by collaboration, and focused on forming students for lives of wisdom, purpose, service, and leadership.
“I return with even greater confidence in the importance of the path St. Ambrose and Mount Mercy are walking together,” Novak said.
