Pope Leo XIV to meet Community of the Pontifical Teutonic College of Santa Maria in Campo Santo

The Pope met with the community of the Pontifical Teutonic College of Santa Maria in Campo Santo to mark the 150th anniversary of the institution's foundation. During the meeting on October 3, 2026, the Pope welcomed priests of the college, the rector, and members of the Archconfraternity.

The Pope noted that the Campo Santo has served pilgrims from the Holy Roman Empire since the eighth century. He highlighted the college's importance during the nineteenth century when the Kulturkampf in the German Empire hindered the work of clergy. During that period, the Archconfraternity of the Teutonic Campo Santo provided a refuge and a place of study for priests from German-speaking regions.

The institution has since developed into a center for research into Christian origins, Church history, and Christian archaeology. The Pope described the college as a place of formation where seminarians pursue intellectual and spiritual growth to prepare for ministry in their home countries.