A key motivation, Pope Francis said, was to find ways to respond positively to the call of the Second Vatican Council "to overcome this divorce between theology and pastoral care, between faith and life."

Half of all students at Catholic colleges identify as Catholic, and 62 percent of all students are women.

For minority, first-generation and low-income students community college can be a ticket to the middle class.

Focus is a nearly 20-year-old evangelization ministry started by a layperson who was frustrated that non-Catholic student groups seemed more successful in spreading the faith on college campuses.

"Roy's life has been in service to his good, loving and ever-forgiving God," said Michael Van Hecke, St. Augustine's headmaster.

Markle, recently engaged to Prince Harry, was a Kairos retreat leader and was close with her theology teacher, a former Catholic Worker.