Academic freedom is of "great value" to Catholic colleges and universities, but using it to justify positions that contradict church teachings can betray the identity and mission of those schools, Pope Benedict XVI told religious educators yesterday.

Speaking to 200 presidents of Roman Catholic schools and 195 directors or superintendents assigned with Catholic education, Pope Benedict shared his vision of its importance in 21st-century America.

He weighed in on a sometimes touchy subject at many of those schools: Just how closely to church teachings must they adhere.

"First and foremost, every Catholic educational institution is a place to encounter the living God who in Jesus Christ reveals his transforming love and truth," Pope Benedict told the audience at The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.

He said a school's religious identity isn't determined by the number of Catholic students or by "orthodoxy" but rather by its conviction, and church teachings should be a campus-wide influence. Promoting those teachings serves society as a whole by ensuring that reason "remains open to the consideration of ultimate truths."

In pursuit of a society worthy of one's human dignity, "truths of faith and reason never contradict one another," he said.

Pope Benedict said Christian educators must recognize that leading young people to the truth "is nothing less than an act of love." He addressed the importance of Catholic K-12 education and said work in poorer communities is particularly important.

School leaders from Western Pennsylvania who were in the audience gave the speech high marks.

"It was a very affirmative message," said Duquesne University President Charles J. Dougherty.

"I was personally touched," said La Roche College President Sister Candace Introcaso.

St. Vincent College President H. James Towey said it will encourage Catholic educators to consider "why we exist. I just feel very encouraged by what he had to say. I'm looking forward to a campus discussion about this."

The Rev. Thomas Reese, a senior fellow at Woodstock Theological Center in Washington, D.C., and a past critic of some of the pope's views regarding academic freedom when he was Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, was also impressed by yesterday's address.

"I think it will be well-received. He endorses academic freedom. He admits academic freedom can be abused but doesn't say that they should be fired," he said. "For academics, that's the heart of actually having academic freedom."