On April 17, Pope Benedict XVI will meet with the heads of Catholic colleges and universities and superintendents from the Catholic dioceses on the campus of the Catholic University of America.
The bishops of the United States established the Catholic University of America in 1887. In its earliest years, the university admitted only graduate students. It opened its doors to undergraduates in 1904.
Catholic University is the only U.S. university with ecclesiastical faculties granting canonical degrees in canon law, philosophy and theology. Theological College, the university seminary, prepares men for the priesthood who come from many dioceses of the United States.
The university retains its close ties with the bishops of the United States. At present, 23 bishops serve on the Board of Trustees. Bishop William Lori of Bridgeport, Ct., is President of the Board of Trustees. As Archbishop of Washington, Archbishop Donald Wuerl serves as Chancellor.
For the 2007-2008 school year, the Catholic University of America has over 3,000 undergraduate students and over 3,000 graduate students. These students come from all 50 states and 99 foreign countries.
Source: The Catholic University of America
