In the final part of his speech to the lecturers and students of the Papal Gregorian University, Benedict XVI mentioned the foundation of the university: "It is in the university setting of Paris that Ignatius Loyola and his first companions came to the fervent wish to help the souls by loving and serving God in everything", he said, hence his decision to come to Rome, where he founded "the Roman College, the first University of the Society of Jesus", in the "attempt to help the souls love and serve God in everything". "This charismatic peculiarity of the Society of Jesus, institutionally expressed by the fourth vow of total availability to the Roman Pontiff in anything he may want to order he added afterwards is also accomplished in the fact the General Provost of the Society of Jesus calls the most suitable Jesuits from every part of the world to teach in this University". To conclude, the Pope expressed the gratitude of the Church for such institution and expressed the wish that "the Gregorian University may preserve Ignatius’ spirit that enlivens it, which is embodied in its teaching method and the structure of its studies".
