VATICAN CITY — Dr. Greg Monroe, superintendent of Catholic schools for the Diocese of Charlotte, and Kevin O’Herron, principal of St. Matthew Catholic School in Charlotte, were invited to be part of a group of 10 Catholic education leaders to represent American Catholic education at the Vatican’s October Jubilee of the World of Education in Rome. The delegation, spanning the spectrum of Catholic education from pre-K through university, engaged with global Church leaders on the future of Catholic schooling.
Monroe, who also serves as an advisor to the president of the National Catholic Educational Association, described the experience as humbling and inspiring.
“It was an honor to represent American Catholic education as part of the U.S. delegation to the Jubilee of the World of Education in Rome,” he shared. “We were also fortunate to share with Vatican leadership the issues affecting Catholic education in the United States, as well as offer advice on global topics shaping the future of our schools. These included the role of AI and technology in the classroom, the safeguarding of Catholic identity, the impact of immigration, and demographic trends affecting enrollment and access.”
The U.S. delegates met with Vatican leaders from the Pontifical Association, Scholas Occurrentes, and the Dicastery for Culture and Education to discuss challenges and opportunities facing Catholic schools across the globe. They visited institutions such as the Teutonico College and the Pontifical Biblical Institute (Biblicum), and spent time at the Pontifical Gregorian University examining foundational texts of Catholic education.
One of the most significant moments of the pilgrimage was attending the papal Mass on the Solemnity of All Saints, where the Holy Father declared St. John Henry Newman the 38th Doctor of the Church and named him a co-patron of Catholic education.
Monroe said the pilgrimage was a deep affirmation of the Church’s enduring investment in Catholic education and a powerful reminder of the global mission shared by educators. “To pray at the tomb of St. Peter, walk through the Holy Doors, and stand shoulder to shoulder with fellow educators from around the world was a true gift, and a commissioning. Our ministry is essential to the future of the Church,” he said.
— Diocese of Charlotte Catholic Schools