Rector’s Welcome

On December 7, 1859, twelve American seminarians entered the newly-founded Pontifical North American College on Humility Street in the heart of Rome. The opening of the College was in response to Pope Pius IX’s call to the American hierarchy to “set up, here in this venerable City of Ours, your own College for clerics from your own nation. For you, in your wisdom, are well aware what great advantages would accrue to your dioceses from such an institution.”

The world has changed dramatically since then, but the mission of the College remains the same: to form men for the priesthood with hearts configured to Christ, the Eternal High Priest, so that they may return to their home dioceses eager to serve God’s people faithfully, generously, and joyfully.

The Pontifical North American College now sits atop the Janiculum Hill in its impressive building dedicated in 1953, which overlooks the dome of Saint Peter’s Basilica and the entire city of Rome. Here, the seminarians reside, attend Mass and liturgies as a community, share meals, meet with their spiritual directors and formation advisors, and receive training specifically for ministry as diocesan priests in the United States. (In recent years, seminarians from Australia and Canada also make up the community.) For their intellectual and theological formation, the men attend various pontifical universities in the City, and they are also engaged in charitable works and ministries throughout Rome as part of their pastoral formation.

Along with its essential mission to prepare seminarians for the priesthood, the College also includes the Casa Santa Maria, located in the original seminary building on Humility Street, where American priests who are pursuing graduate degrees reside and where pilgrims to Rome are assisted by the Bishops’ Office for United States Visitors to the Vatican; and the Institute for Continuing Theological Education, located in the Casa O’Toole on the Janiculum campus, for priests on sabbatical.

Since its founding, the Pontifical North American College has prepared thousands of American seminarians to serve as priests in the United States. Not only have these men been enriched personally by the Roman experience, but they have also instilled in the people they serve a unique understanding of the universality of the Catholic Church, a love and respect for the Roman Pontiff, and an appreciation for the City where Saint Peter, Saint Paul, and countless Christian martyrs have shed their blood for the Faith.

I thank you for visiting our site, and I ask for your prayers and support for the important work being performed at the College.

Our Lady of Humility, pray for us!

Monsignor Thomas W. Powers, S.T.L. ‘97
Rector