The Pontifical Gregorian University (Pontificia Universitate Gregoriana), often affectionately referred to as “the Greg,” is a prestigious ecclesiastical university located in Rome, Italy.
It was founded in 1551 by St. Ignatius of Loyola (founder of the Jesuits) as the Roman College (Collegium Romanum). It has the distinction of being the very first educational institution founded by the Society of Jesus.
In 1584, Pope Gregory XIII provided the university with a new campus and significant endowment. In gratitude, the institution was renamed the Gregorian University in his honor.
For over four centuries, it has been a central institution for defending and propagating the Catholic faith, training generations of church leaders, theologians, and philosophers from around the world.