Pope Leo XIV has an honorary degree from a Massachusetts college

Published

12 months ago

May 9, 2025

Pope Leo XIV has an honorary degree from a Massachusetts college

The first American pope has ties to Massachusetts.

Before becoming Pope Leo XIV, Robert Francis Prevost, a native of Chicago who graduated from Villanova University, received an honorary degree from Merrimack College in North Andover in 2005.

“Bob, first of all, is a servant of the church,” Father Raymond Dlugos, vice president of mission and ministry at Merrimack College, told NBC10 Boston Thursday.

White smoke billowed from the Sistine Chapel’s chimney to signal the election of Pope Leo XIV, a native of Chicago.

Dlugos also attended Villanova and served as an Augustinian friar with the future pontiff in the late 1970s.

“We were both studying to be Augustinians, we were both taking philosophy courses,” Dlugos said. “He was wicked smart.”

Pope Leo holds dual citizenship in the U.S. and Peru, where he spent many years serving.

“He had a wisdom about him, and a presence about him, that was never overbearing, but very influential,” Dlugos said.

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Wrong-way crash closes I-495 southbound in Chelmsford, 1 seriously injured – Boston News, Weather, Sports | WHDH 7News

Published

3 hours ago

April 22, 2026

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Wrong-way crash closes I-495 southbound in Chelmsford, 1 seriously injured – Boston News, Weather, Sports | WHDH 7News

CHELMSFORD, MASS. (WHDH) – A wrong-way driver crashed into another vehicle on I-495 in Chelmsford Tuesday night, shutting down the soundbound lanes in that area, according to Massachusetts State Police and The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT).

State police said Troopers from the Concord Barracks responded to a two-car crash on I-495 at the Hunt Road overpass shortly before 10 p.m. They said preliminary information indicates the crash happened as a result of a wrong-way driver striking a vehicle traveling in the correct direction.

Chelmsford Fire and EMS responded to the scene, and the driver was taken to the hospital by MedFlight. State police said they suffered life-threatening injuries.

MassDOT said the highway southbound is currently closed at exit 88 due to the crash, and is expected to remain closed for several hours.

Drivers are asked to seek alternate routes at this time.

This is a developing news story; stay with 7NEWS on-air and online for the latest details.

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Massachusetts

Two stabbed at Cedar’s Mediterranean Foods plant in Haverhill

Published

15 hours ago

April 21, 2026

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Two stabbed at Cedar’s Mediterranean Foods plant in Haverhill

Two people were seriously injured in a stabbing at the Cedar’s Mediterranean Foods manufacturing facility in Haverhill, Massachusetts, on Tuesday morning.

Haverhill police said they responded to the Cedar’s plan on Foundation Avenue around 10:30 a.m. for a report of a disturbance involving a weapon. When they arrived, they found two people suffering from apparent stab wounds.

Both people were provided with medical assistance on scene and taken to area hospitals with what police described as serious injuries. Their names have not been released, and no update on their conditions was immediately available.

Preliminary investigation determined that the two people knew each other, and police said there is no ongoing threat to the public. They said their investigation into the incident remains active.

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Injured Massachusetts teen thanks rescuers who

Published

1 day ago

April 21, 2026

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Injured Massachusetts teen thanks rescuers who

Two Plymouth, Massachusetts teens were saved from the summit of Mount Washington after a leg injury stranded them.

Khang Nguyen,17, said he and his friend, 18-year-old Vaughn Webb, thought they were well prepared for their hike on Saturday. They brought trekking poles, layers, microspikes for their boots and more.

But halfway up the trail, Nguyen feared the worst when his leg began to hurt.

“It was just incredibly painful to lift up my right leg,” he explained. “I told [Vaughn] to leave me behind so I could go on my own pace and for him to reach the summit to get help at first.”

The pair managed to reach the top of the mountain but had to seek shelter next to a building as wind gusts increased, and the air temperature reached 38 degrees. Nguyen said they also ran out of food and water. The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department received the 911 call around 7:30 p.m. and quickly alerted a State Park employee who began to search for the two teens.

“Conservation Officers then began responding in four-wheel-drive pickup trucks to try and get to the summit and back ahead of incoming snow,” the game department said in a statement.

After around 30 minutes of reaching both Webb and Nguyen were found. They were taken inside a building and Nguyen was being treated for his injury.

“The worker that was up there, [said] that they came in record time, and we appreciate their help a lot. It saved our lives potentially,” Nguyen explained.

The pair was successfully taken off the mountain by 10 p.m. The two teens are now safely back in Massachusetts and are incredibly grateful to their rescuers.

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