Italy - Inauguration of the 2023-24 Academic Year of the Salesian Pontifical University
(ANS – Rome) – The inauguration of the 2023-2024 Academic Year of the Salesian Pontifical University (UPS) took place on Tuesday 17 October, with the Eucharistic concelebration presided over by Cardinal Ángel Fernández Artime, the Rector Major of the Salesians of Don Bosco and Grand Chancellor of the UPS and the keynote address by Monsignor Giovanni Cesare Pagazzi, the Secretary of the Dicastery for Culture and Education.
For all those present it was a morning of joy and reunion, in which the entire academic and student community of the UPS gathered to spend time together, with the hope of living for the entire year that is about to open an experience of cultural, human and spiritual growth.
In presiding over the morning Eucharist, Cardinal Á.F. Artime focused on the theme chosen for the new year: “Living on the threshold. Frontiers of humanity and the experience of God” and commented: “I hope that the Holy Spirit accompanies you to inhabit the threshold of existence of today’s men and women, in particular the youngest and poorest. Living on the threshold of their questions and their thirst means not being afraid to ‘get on the bandwagon’ of today’s young people. To enter into their world and listening, dialogue with them and accompany them. It means helping young people to listen to their deepest thirst, which is sometimes suffocated by the culture of immediate consumption of things, experiences and relationships. That deep thirst is always there! It is up to us to recognize it, to live it and point to the living water that alone can satisfy it forever.”
At the end of the celebration, animated by the University Choir, the Academic inauguration was held in the Paul VI Hall of the UPS, in the presence of Ecclesiastical, Civil and Military Authorities and the entire UPS Academic Community.
In his introductory speech, the Rector Magnificus of the UPS, Prof. Fr Andrea Bozzolo, retraced the most significant moments of the past academic year, informed the gather about the new appointments, and thanked, in particular, the Holy Father for the election of the Grand Chancellor as Cardinal.
Explaining the reasons for choosing the theme of the year, he specified: “The mission of a university is to inhabit the anxieties of its time, to pause with the resources of thought on the great questions of its era, to intercept and give shape to the questions of daily existence that they often struggle to put into words. Grasping these concerns with respect, navigating them without settling for pre-packaged answers and recognizing in them, an ever new openness to the mystery of truth is the meaning of our cultural commitment”.
He then introduced the proposed conference on “Youth and sexuality: Challenges, Criteria & Educational paths”, which will be held from 1st to 3rd March 2024 and which will constitute the arrival point of the three-year project “Youth, affections, identities” which involved the professors of all the Faculties and served as the starting point of a new trajectory of formation.
The Rector of UPS then spoke about the new curriculum dedicated to the third Sector, which was activated in the new year, with the aim is to address the specific needs of this area of activity, combining the humanistic and solidarity vision that emanates from the social teaching of the church to the technical skills (legal, economic, administrative, management) necessary to operate in the social economy.
The keynote address by Monsignor Giovanni Cesare Pagazzi, the Secretary of the Dicastery for Culture and Education, was very interesting, as he underlined the importance of everyone’s cultural training and updating. “It is necessary to interrupt one’s time and dedicate part of it to one’s own cultural growth.” It is interesting to note that he is also the Professor of Systematic Theology in Piacenza, Lodi, Milan, and also that of Ecclesiology and Family Community at the Pontifical John Paul II Theological Institute of Rome. He, as a professor has collaborated with many theological faculties and pontifical universities besides authoring of numerous publications.
This was followed by thanksgiving and distribution of awards to Prof. Tadeusz Lewicki, who retires this year, and for other meritorious students who completed their studies on time and with high ranks.
The event ended with the official proclamation of the opening of the 2023/2024 academic year by Cardinal Ángel Fernández Artime.
{gallery}UPS INAUGURAZIONE ANNO ACCADEMICO 2023-2024{/gallery}
