Dear friends,

I am pleased to greet all of you this morning representing the Board of Governors of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem as you visit the Vatican and visit Rome. And I hope that your time here will allow you to deepen your knowledge both of Vatican City as well as Rome, a place that is not only central to the origins and growth of the Christian faith, but also one that has fostered the meetings of cultures and peoples for millennia.

Universities have likewise been longtime places of encounter, bringing together students and faculty to grow in wisdom through scholarly study and research as well as through the friendships and professional affiliations that naturally develop. While not always easy, universities must constantly work to ensure that opportunities for meaningful encounters remain available. This is an essential part of the life of any institution of higher learning, because our relationships with others, our languages and our cultures are vitally important for who we are as human beings (cf. Address to Professors and Students of Sapienza University in Rome, 14 May 2026). 

As natural places for encounter, universities have also therefore traditionally been privileged places for dialogue, where the pursuit of knowledge is intrinsically linked with exchanges of ideas between all of the members of the academic community. In an atmosphere where respectful dialogue is possible, everyone can grow in knowledge through learning from the points of view and living testimonies of others, even those with whom they might disagree. In these settings, with patient perseverance, it is possible to gradually work towards breaking down any barriers of misunderstanding and distrust that may arise.

In this regard, in a time that is often characterized by violence and pointed rhetoric, the members of your diverse university community can continue to be “artisans of true peace, a peace that is unarmed and disarming, humble and persevering, working for harmony among peoples” (ibid.). The Psalms tell us that the God who loves us unconditionally speaks of peace to his people and those who turn to him in their hearts (cf. Ps 85:8-9). God asks us to be his instruments to bring peace to the world, but we must start with ourselves. As Saint Augustine of Hippo once wrote, “If you wish to draw others to peace, first have peace yourselves; be steadfast in peace yourselves. To inflame others, you must have the flame burning within” (Serm. 357, 3). Rather than believing peace to be impossible and beyond our reach, we must seek to promote it in our communities and to welcome and recognize it in our own lives (cf. Message for the LIX World Day of Peace, 1 January 2026). I pray that through forming artisans of peace, the University community may continue to be a beacon of hope and unity in a world that is increasingly divided.

My dear friends, with these sentiments, I thank you for your presence and invoke upon all of you and your loved ones the divine blessings of wisdom and harmony. Thank you.