Pontifical College Josephinum
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![Monsignor Joseph Jessing, seen here in 1896 wearing decorations from his years in the Prussian Army, founded the Josephinum in 1888.](/Images/godic/202502/03/Joseph_jessing_w_medals0241.jpg")
![Pope Leo XIII granted pontifical status to the Josephinum with this hand-written, Latin letter in 1892.](/Images/godic/202502/03/PCJ_pontifical_status0241.jpg")
The Pontifical College Josephinum is a four-year, Roman Catholic liberal arts college and graduate school of theology founded by Monsignor Joseph Jessing in 1888 and located in Columbus, Ohio, USA. The seminary prepares its students to become priests in the Roman Catholic Church. Students come from U.S. dioceses that do not have their own seminaries, as well as dioceses from around the world.