The Angelicum is a Dominican University, founded by the Order of Friars Preachers, to give expression to the Order’s Gospel charism of preaching and teaching the truth of Jesus Christ to all nations. Like the Angelic Doctor himself, today’s students learn by opening the classic books of revelation, of nature, and of experience, which discloses the inner book of the Church’s living Tradition, a Tradition of God’s Word made flesh and dwelling amongst us.
The Angelicum’s mission is to form students as virtuous leaders, capable of evangelization and promoting integral human development, illuminated by the wisdom of St. Thomas Aquinas.
The Angelicum offers university education where faith and reason work together. It forms students as virtuous leaders, capable of evangelization and promoting integral human development. Illuminating the present by the wisdom of St. Thomas Aquinas, students, professors, and staff share in Dominican study, prayer, community and preaching.
“
So as to assure an adequate doctrinal formation in universities and religious houses of formation; and in order to fulfill our desire that the doctrine of Thomas Aquinas be deepened as a treasure for the development of the Christian life and his writings be made accessible to all since they continue to be relevant to our times; and since we are convinced that if the study of the doctrines of the Angelic Doctor continue to be advanced they will fulfill the determinations of the Fathers of the Second Vatican Council; after carefully examining the matter, motu proprio and by our apostolic authority we decree and promulgate that the International Pontifical Athenaeum Angelicum, legitimately erected and entrusted to the Order of Preachers, now and in posterity be designated as the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome.
Excerpt from the Apostolic Letter “Motu Proprio” Dominicianus Ordo from St. John XXIII, in which he honored with the title of Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome, the then International Pontifical Athenaeum Angelicum (March 7, 1963)