From St. Peter’s to the Hill: Reflections from Rome
A View From St. Peter’s

Contributed by: Marc M. Camille, Ed.D., President of Albertus Magnus College

Earlier this summer, while participating in the Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities’ Rome Seminar, I shared a few moments from the journey through social media. With the benefit of time and as we prepare for a new academic year at Albertus Magnus College, the first of our second century, I look forward to offering a series of reflections on what was truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

It was a profound honor for Becky and me to represent Albertus alongside approximately twenty other presidents and their spouses from Catholic colleges and universities across the United States. The experience carried special significance during Albertus’ Centennial Anniversary Year, reminding me that while we celebrate our first hundred years, we also are part of the enduring tradition of Catholic higher education and the universal Church.

One of the week’s earliest and most memorable moments came on Trinity Sunday, May 31, when we joined thousands of pilgrims gathered in St. Peter’s Square for Pope Leo XIV’s Angelus address. Looking toward the Apostolic Palace and seeing women, men, and children from every corner of world united in faith, I found myself thinking about Albertus and the enduring values that have shaped our College for the past century. 

In his Angelus message, Pope Leo spoke about the Church as a place of communion, encounter, and hope, calling us to resist the divisions that too often separate us. His words resonated deeply with Albertus’ Dominican mission—to seek Veritas (truth) while serving as a source of faith, hope, and opportunity for others.

Over the coming weeks, as I share more from this remarkable experience, not simply to recount where we traveled, but to consider what these moments can teach us as individuals and as members of the Albertus community. This series will culminate with one of the greatest privileges Becky and I have ever experienced; our group’s private audience with Pope Leo.

My hope is that these reflections become more than memories from Rome. I hope they remind us the Dominican Pillars we celebrate at Albertus—study, prayer, community, and service—are never confined to one place. They are meant to guide how we live, how we lead, and how we serve—wherever we are called.

Next Week: The College’s Dominican Heritage in Rome