Who is Father Leo O’Donovan?
FATHER Leo O’Donovan will deliver an invocation prayer at Joe Biden’s inauguration ceremony today (January, 20, 2021).
The American Catholic priest has a close relationship with the Democrat and their friendship has gone back decades.
Who is Father Leo O’Donovan?
Born in 1934, Leo O’Donovan is a priest, Jesuit and theologian.
He was born in New York City and graduated from Georgetown university.
He received his doctorate in theology from the University of Münster, Germany.
Father O’Donovan became a professor at Woodstock college and the Weston Jesuit of Theology, before becoming president of the Catholic Theological Society of America.
In 1989, O’Donovan was named president of Georgetown University and under his presidency, the number of applications at the academic institution increased.
Joe Biden and Leo O’Donovan have a special friendship that has lasted for decades.
In 1992, Father O’Donovan encouraged the former Senator to deliver a lecture about the importance of faith in politics – the first time that Biden had addressed the subject.
In June 2015, Father O’Donovan presided over the funeral Mass of Beau Biden, who died from brain cancer.
In 2016, he became the director of mission for the US branch of the Jesuit Refugee Service.
Father O’Donovan has been critical of President Trump’s approach to immigration.
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What will Father Leo O’Donovan say at Joe Biden’s inauguration?
Father O’Donovan will deliver the invocation at Joe Biden’s inauguration ceremony.
Traditionally, this is a prayer that asks for assistance – and will call for God’s blessing on the ceremony and on the Democrat before he is sworn in.
It’s likely that Father O’Donovan will refer to Biden’s pride in his Catholic roots.
The Democrat has often spoken about his faith acting as a “solace” in a time of tragedy during the loss of his own family members.