Universities welcome Pope: is it an enchanting melody or a sacred journey?
In a speech delivered at the 28th General Assembly of the International Federation of Catholic Universities, Pope Francis emphasized the importance of faith and science working together in harmony. The Pope compared Catholic universities to "paths of the spirit to God," a term from the Italian scholastic Bonventura, and viewed them as key players in a new evangelization.
The motto of the assembly, "Catholic Universities, Choreographers of Knowledge," invites harmony, unity, dynamism, and joy. The Pope used this as an opportunity to express his desire for a new evangelization in the realm of Catholic higher education, hoping that the wisdom of Christ may serve as a "compass" for these institutions.
The Pope believes that faith and science are fundamentally compatible and complementary, with each addressing different dimensions of truth. Science explains how things work, while faith explains why they exist and their ultimate meaning. This synthesis is especially important in Catholic higher education, where fostering understanding that faith and science together reveal the goodness, truth, and beauty of God helps counter the misconception that they are in conflict.
The Pope urged educators and students to appreciate both scientific inquiry and religious belief as part of a unified search for truth. Specifically, this new evangelization in Catholic higher education urges institutions to cultivate not only academic excellence but also interior life and behavioral formation aligned with faith principles—promoting a holistic development that includes intellectual, spiritual, and practical dimensions of living the faith.
Pope Francis’ teachings on integral ecology, notably through his encyclical Laudato Si’, tie scientific and social concerns about the environment directly to faith-based responsibility and justice. This exemplifies how faith motivates action in the contemporary world, an important perspective for Catholic educators to impart in higher education.
In the Pope's view, we must not distance ourselves from Christ or relativize his unique and particular place in order to engage respectfully and fruitfully with other schools of knowledge. The root of wisdom, according to Augustine, lies in an "unchangeable truth" that must be sought. The Pope warned against falling into certain modes of thought that may be attractive due to their novelty, popularity, or apparent security.
The source of this information is Vatican News, which published the Pope's address to the 28th General Assembly of the International Federation of Catholic Universities on Monday evening. Since the beginning of evangelization, Christians have understood their faith in the context of the world. The university environment with its characteristic dialogue between different worldviews is not foreign to the Church and its work.
In conclusion, the Pope sees faith and science as a beautiful synthesis, each revealing aspects of divine truth. Catholic higher education is called to foster this synthesis, combating the false idea that faith and science conflict. The new evangelization involves educating hearts and minds through integrated faith and reason to form committed Catholics grounded in truth and justice. Environmental stewardship inspired by faith (Laudato Si’) is a key part of this evangelization, urging actionable care rooted in belief. The Pope's hope is that the federation's loving knowledge may spark a new evangelization in the field of Catholic higher education.
[1] Vatican News [2] Vatican News [3] Laudato Si’ [4] Catholic Education: The Journey to Excellence [5] Catholic Schools Centre for Education
- In line with the Pope's address, education and self-development in Catholic universities should strive for harmony between faith principles and academic excellence, fostering intellectual, spiritual, and practical growth that reveals the goodness, truth, and beauty of God.
- In the spirit of the new evangelization, academic institutions under the International Federation of Catholic Universities are encouraged to cultivate a holistic education that aligns behavior with faith principles, promoting unity, dynamism, and joy in the search for truth.
