St. Joe's inaugurates its first lay president

With Pope Francis' visit to Philadelphia just a week away, the new president of St. Joseph's University during his inauguration on Friday urged students, faculty, staff, alumni and visitors to follow the Pontiff's example.

"We must challenge ourselves to be open to the possibilities – however energizing or unsettling – to which the examination of our individual and collective consciences can lead," said Mark C. Reed, the first lay president in the Catholic university's history.  "Let us pledge to approach institutional problems with a sense of personal detachment from the outcome, asking primarily what is for the greater good of St. Joseph's University."

Reed, the university's 28th president, also quoted Abraham Lincoln.

"We must think anew and act anew," said Reed, former senior vice president at Fairfield University of Connecticut and a graduate of St. Joseph's Preparatory School in Philadelphia. "I have found a near universal desire on the part of members of the Saint Joseph's community to model Lincoln's wisdom.  The challenge of course is moving from words to action, but I am confident we are and will be doing just that."

Among the speakers was the Most Rev. Charles J. Chaput, Archbishop of Philadelphia.