DePaul University

During Commencement Weekend, we honored the Class of 2026 and welcomed them into our 225,000+ alumni family.

We were inspired by the reflections of our student speakers, as well as the insights shared by honorary degree recipients and commencement speakers Eugene Jarvis, Cheryl Corley and Daniel Porterfield.

We’re proud to celebrate this milestone and new beginnings. Congratulations, Blue Demons!

(📷: Holden Hall and Amanda Stevenson/DePaul Student Photo Agency)

From DePaul University President Rob Manuel:
“Last week, I had the honor of meeting His Holiness Pope Leo XIV. This was a deeply moving experience, made even more special by presenting the Pope with copies of his parents’ DePaul diplomas.

The gift served as a reminder of the power of a Catholic education and the meaningful connection between the Holy Father and our university community.

During my visit, I also met with leaders from the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Development, where we had engaging conversations on the Pope’s recent encyclical about artificial intelligence and environmental sustainability. Building on this relationship, I am especially pleased that a delegation of DePaul faculty will return to Rome in late June to continue strengthening this collaboration.

I was incredibly proud to represent DePaul as part of a distinguished Chicago delegation alongside Mayor Brandon Johnson and share DePaul’s mission on a global platform.

Moments like these reaffirm the importance of the work we have been doing and the far-reaching influence of the DePaul community. I look forward to carrying this experience with me and pushing it forward in service to our students and our Catholic Vincentian mission.”

📷: Simone Risoluti/Vatican Media