PITTSBURGH — The president of Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh has apologized for a student who dressed half-naked as the pope, with her pubic hair shaved in the shape of a cross, during a campus fine arts parade last month.

President Jared Cohon says he planned to remain silent until the school completes its internal disciplinary review of the incident. But he instead decided to apologize for the “highly offensive” behavior of the unnamed student — who also threw condoms to onlookers — in the wake of criticism of the incident by Pittsburgh Catholic Bishop David Zubik and others.

Zubik says he trusts the school will respond “responsibly” but says he felt a need to speak up for offended believers.