This summer’s Catholic World Fellowship just wrapped up with a record number of fellows—36 students—who spent three weeks at Schloss Wissen in Germany and one unforgettable week in Rome. One of the highlights? Meeting Pope Leo at Castel Gandolfo!

Catholic Worldview Fellowship is a month-long summer fellowship program centered in Germany and Italy designed to form, network, and empower Catholic college students who want to evangelize culture. Through academic instruction from an authentically Catholic approach, cultural pilgrimages throughout Germany and Rome, faith-filled community life, and spiritual formation that includes daily prayer and the sacraments, CWF provides a space for students to contemplate their lives from the standpoint of their faith. It is the hope that graduates of CWF will then go back to transform the culture of their own communities and campuses, empowered by this transformative experience of looking at history, the world, and their own lives in light of the Catholic Worldview.

The CWF program is open to students currently enrolled in undergraduate studies, including graduating seniors. Fellows spend the first three weeks of the program in Germany, staying at Schloss Wissen, while the last week of the fellowship takes place in and around Rome. CWF students receive three academic credits through the accreditation of Benedictine College.

Meet Jack Roach

Jack Roach is one of the students who attended the 2026 Fellowship Experience. When Jack first entered the program, he was hoping for more than just leadership training—he was looking for an experience that would form him in his faith, surround him with others striving for the same ideals, and challenge him to grow in his ability and courage to live out his Catholic values in daily life. Seeking clarity on what it truly means to be a leader, one rooted in service and integrity, Jack hoped to be able to take that new understanding home with him, and carry it into every aspect of his life.

Jack also prayed, before leaving for Germany, for something that he could offer up, a sacrifice that he could make throughout the trip to draw him closer to an encounter with Christ. His prayer was answered just a few days after his arrival when he was bitten by a spider, and by the time the group reached Italy, Jack could hardly walk.

When the CWF fellows made a visit to Castel Candolfo, where Pope Leo spent part of his summer, Jack had to use a wheelchair to avoid having to stand for hours in the hopes of catching a glimpse of the Pope. This placed Jack, and his young brother, Warren, in a special section near the front of the crowd. After praying the Angelus, Pope Leo went down to greet those in that section, and Jack and Warren were able to shake his hand. “It was unforgettable, not because he is the first American pope, but because it felt like God had answered my prayer in an unexpected way. What began as a suffering turned into a moment of immense gratitude and grace.”

Jack’s experience at CWF this past summer was unique and unforgettable, and not just because of the discomfort of the spider bite and the surprise of seeing Pope Leo up close. Spending the month in community, living and praying with peers who shared the same faith, created life-long friendships that shaped his experience. And, just as he had hoped, through the academic experience and spiritual accompaniment, Jack grew in his understanding on what it means to be a leader. “The month deepened my faith and taught me that true leadership is not about authority, but about modeling the way through service, humility, and joy.”