Massachusetts
Pope Leo XIV earned honorary degree from Massachusetts college
Pope Leo XIV, who became the worldwide leader for more than 1 billion Catholics on Thursday, earned an honorary degree from a Massachusetts college years ago.
In 2005, Leo, the first American and Augustinian pontiff, visited Merrimack College in North Andover when he served as Prior General of the Augustinians to celebrate Mass and received an honorary degree in Augustinian Education, the school wrote in a Facebook post.
“We are humbled and incredibly honored,” Rev. Raymond Dlugos, who attended Villanova University with Leo and now works at Merrimack College, wrote. “This is a great honor for the Augustinians … it is like seeing a member of your family being elected pope.”
Members of the Augustinian order, which takes its name from Saint Augustine of Hippo, describe themselves as “active contemplatives” who serve in “diverse ministries as pastors, educators and missionaries, across the globe and in local communities,” according to the order’s website.