Times - Walsh University

President’s MessageAn Emissary of HopeWhat an honor it was to represent Walsh University when presidents of Catholic collegesand universities were invited to Catholic University in Washington, D.C., to meet withPope Benedict XVI. The preparation for the event was exciting. A jaded, political, andsomewhat insensitive city was inspired by a holy man who came with an evangelical purposerather than a political agenda. His humble apology to innocent victims endeared him to allwho had wondered what the trip was about.At 1:30 p.m., we were ushered into the rather modest meeting room at the university –about 280 of us. At 3:00 p.m., we were asked to take our seats. We all knew the Pope wasnot scheduled to speak to us until 5:00 p.m. Three and a half hours waiting and not acomplaint to be heard. We all would have waited longer.As the diminutive pontiff entered the hall and made his way to the podium, we sensed wewere in the presence of someone special. It was not flamboyant, not ceremonial. It was thejourney of a man on a mission.Walsh University is anindependent, coeducationalCatholic, Liberal Arts andSciences Institution.Founded by the Brothers ofChristian Instruction, WalshUniversity is dedicated toeducating its students tobecome leaders in serviceto others through a valuesbasededucation with aninternational perspective inthe Judeo-Christian tradition.The media predicted Pope Benedict would scold us. Not surprisingly, they did not reallyknow this man. He told us that in an age of post-modern relativism wherein few permanentvalues prevail, our institutions needed to stand as bulwarks of stability. He urged us to workhard to integrate Faith and Reason in all areas of campus life. He exhorted us to protect ourCatholic identity against the claims of academic freedom. He praised the Catholic schoolsystem in the U.S.A. as the finest independent system in the world and asked us to remaincommitted to its existence. He lamented the fact that most of the schools that had closedserved the poor and disadvantaged and asked that we recommit.The hour had passed quickly. We all knew this was not a political person promisinghope. It was a holy man giving hope.ope enedict X,s visit to our country was a memorable one indeed. shall not soon forget it.Richard JusseaumePresident