The two men hoped that the creation of a new university would help promote education, introduce Western ideas, and propagate Catholic doctrine in China. The petition was favorably received, but the start of World War I delayed the actual establishment until 1925.
他們二位為振興中國教育，介紹世界新知，弘揚天主教義，早在民國元年就上書羅馬教廷，請求來華設立大學。後因歐戰爆發，計畫終止。