We are preparing to write the next chapter in the history of Jesuit higher education together. From June 30 to July 3, our University will host the third Assembly of the International Association of Jesuit Universities (IAJU) 2025—an event of special significance for the Pontificia Universidad Javeriana and for the Jesuit university mission in Colombia.

We are deeply honored to host this gathering, which we hope will be a memorable experience of hospitality, fellowship, and the strengthening of academic and personal ties among Jesuit universities. The fraternal bond is, without a doubt, a defining feature that makes our universities unique.

IAJU was founded in 2018 with the purpose of promoting the strengthening of Jesuit higher education around the world. Its mission is to encourage member institutions to collaborate in advancing peace, reconciliation, integral ecology, a faith that promotes justice, and the transformation of society. In a time of rapid change and great challenges, IAJU has committed to building a strong, interconnected community capable of responding creatively and rigorously to the problems and needs of our world. IAJU is privileged to draw on the legacy of over 470 years of Jesuit tradition in forming men and women for others, and bears the profound responsibility of supporting the life projects of 750,000 students across its institutions while creating favorable conditions for impactful research and service to society.

Today, IAJU is called to broaden its horizons, to reflect on its mission in challenging times, to continue safeguarding the university as a vital and relevant social institution for both society and democracy, to deepen its purpose, and to strengthen its impact on the lives of individuals and our communities. Facing today’s challenges together is also a way to propose paths of hope.

Father Arturo Sosa Abascal, S.J., the Superior General of the Society of Jesus, has posed two important questions that we will revisit during the Assembly: What is distinctive about a Jesuit education—what defines our way of responding to the needs and challenges of our time? And what do Jesuit universities hope to offer a world experiencing unprecedented advances in technology and knowledge transmission, while also undergoing rapid degradation of planetary resources that is damaging ecosystems and affecting social cohesion globally?

During these four days of work, we will address the following topics in plenary sessions:

"Democracy in Crisis", with special emphasis on three global concerns: populism, polarization, and the shift toward post-truth societies;
"Student Well-being: Helping Young People Achieve a Hope-Filled Future. An Ignatian Guide to Spiritual and Mental Health", as a core part of our apostolic preference of accompanying youth;
"The Challenges of Secularism", to critically assess its impact on holistic education and the identity of Catholic and Jesuit universities;
"Artificial Intelligence: Benefits and Challenges", a session aimed at navigating the complexities of AI by analyzing how it is transforming higher education, exploring strategies for its integration in academic settings, understanding its potential to assist humanity, and addressing its ethical implications;
"Migration, Refugees, and People at the Margins: Best Practices and Collaborations (Within and Beyond the Network)", and
"Environmental Justice: Responding to the Cry of the Earth and the Cry of the Poor."
This will also be a key moment for the Regional Conferences of Jesuit Universities in Latin America, Asia-Pacific, Africa, Europe, North America, and South Asia to come together to share collaboration models and best practices, deepen and advance the implementation of the Association’s strategic priorities, and open new paths for joint initiatives.

The global and regional nature of this Assembly—bringing together shared experiences and questions while addressing both universal challenges and those specific to each region—presents a unique opportunity to connect mission and innovation. It will demonstrate how our universities respond with boldness and creativity to the transformations of today’s world without losing sight of their deeper inspiration.

We value IAJU as a reference point for a discerning community; for this reason, this is not a traditional academic gathering. We will listen, ask hard questions, and seek insight collectively. The Jesuit university mission is a collaborative endeavor in constant evolution. We are excited to welcome IAJU to Colombia and to continue writing our shared story.

Luis Fernando Múnera Congote, SJ
Rector of the Pontifical Xavierian University