Sister Nathalie Becquart Receives Arrupe Award
From left: Ryan Sheehan, J.D., assistant director of the University’s Jesuit Center; Thomas Elias, student body vice president and a philosophy and theology major from Tunkhannock; Clara Downey, student body president and a political science and public policy and service major from Easthampton, Massachusetts; guest speaker and Arrupe Award recipient Sister Nathalie Becquart; Rev. Joseph G. Marina, S.J., president of The University of Scranton, Michelle Gonzalez Maldonado, Ph.D., provost and senior vice president for academic affairs; and Daniel Cosacchi, Ph.D., vice president for mission and ministries.As part of the celebration of The University of Scranton’s 50th Anniversary of Coeducation, Sister Nathalie Becquart, XMCJ, undersecretary of the General Secretariat of the Synod of Bishops, presented “Pope Francis, Women and Synodality” in March on campus. Appointed by Pope Francis as an undersecretary in 2021, Sister Becquart is the first woman to hold this position and making her the first woman to have the right to vote in the Synod of Bishops and the highest-ranking woman official at the Vatican. During her visit, Rev. Joseph G. Marina, S.J., president of The University of Scranton, presented her with the University’s Pedro Arrupe, S.J., Award for Distinguished Contributions to Ignation Mission and Ministry. The Arrupe Award is given to recognize men and women for outstanding contributions in a wide variety of Ignatian-inspired ministries.
