In an increasingly secular world, Jesuit and Catholic universities are uniquely positioned to respond to the challenge of maintaining mission integrity while engaging diverse, pluralistic societies. Plenary Session 3, “The Challenges of Secularism,” moderated by Fr. Michael Garanzini, S.J. (President, Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities–North America), tackled this complexity, offering insight and actionable strategies for institutional leaders navigating the tensions between secularism and faith-based education.

Monsignor Carlo Maria Polvani, Secretary of the Dicastery for Education and Culture, offered a keynote that reframed secularism as a dynamic cultural phenomenon. Rather than confronting secularism as a singular ideological adversary, he urged universities to analyze it socio-culturally and anthropologically, emphasizing that secularism manifests differently across contexts. He warned against one-size-fits-all approaches and encouraged universities to be rigorous in understanding their specific social environments, thus tailoring mission-driven responses grounded in real-world cultural dynamics.

Polvani further emphasized the Church’s nuanced position: while condemning extreme secularism and proselytism alike, the Second Vatican Council affirmed secularism’s potential to protect religious freedom and called on Catholic institutions to promote dialogue between faith and reason. Jesuit universities, he noted, are uniquely called to foster this dialogue, modeling a “culture of encounter” and standing at the forefront of societal transformation.

Several key best practices emerged from the responses:

1. Contextual Intercultural Engagement Fr. Albertus Bagus Laksana, S.J. (Sanata Dharma University, Indonesia), described how his university engages secularism in a majority-Muslim context. Despite a largely non-Catholic student body and faculty, Sanata Dharma cultivates openness through Ignatian spirituality, inclusive retreats, and shared moral commitments. He underscored the value of hybrid religious identities and plural cultural belonging in resisting fundamentalism and promoting reconciliation.

2. Responding to Students’ Search for Meaning Dr. Katia Passerini (Gonzaga University, USA), emphasized that today’s students, while increasingly unaffiliated with religion, are still deeply concerned with questions of purpose, belonging, and meaning. She recommended embedding spiritual inquiry across the curriculum, especially emphasizing dialogue and integrating faith and reason in disciplines beyond theology. Data from national surveys and experiences from her campus suggest that such approaches resonate strongly with Gen Z students.

3. Mission-Driven Faculty and Leadership Fr. Rafael Fernández, S.J. (Universidad Antonio Ruiz de Montoya, Peru), reminded participants that the best defense against secularism is a community of believers who embody their faith through witness. In Latin America, where Catholic affiliation is declining, he emphasized the importance of renewing Catholic identity not through dogma but through Ignatian pedagogy and liberation theology’s call to justice.

4. Humanities and Identity Formation Polvani concluded by highlighting the humanities as essential for student formation. Professors who engage students in philosophy, ethics, and literature help cultivate discernment, empathy, and critical thinking—core Jesuit values. Moreover, many non-Catholic students and families are drawn to Jesuit institutions precisely for these values.

5. Balancing Catholic Identity with Genuine Inclusivity All speakers affirmed the value of inclusive institutional cultures that do not dilute mission but enrich it. Catholic identity, when practiced with openness and humility, can coexist with religious and cultural diversity. As Passerini noted, post-crisis moments on campus have revealed the hunger for spaces of reflection, care, and moral leadership.

Jesuit universities face secularism not from the sidelines but at its heart. Ultimately, secularism challenges Jesuit institutions not to retreat but to lead: to be places of dialogue, reflection, and authentic encounter.