Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Rome (Agenzia Fides) - On Monday 8 October Santa Croce Pontifical University in Rome inaugurated its 24th academic year with a solemn Votive Mass of the Holy Spirit, presided by the University's grand chancellor Mgr. Javier Echevarría Prelate of Opus Dei in a renovated Sant’Apollinar Basilica. The Mass was sung by St Johan Parish Choir Münster, in Germany. In his homily Mgr. Echevarría said, with regard to Santa Croce College activity ,“Omnes cum Petro ad Iesum per Mariam, with Peter to Jesus through Mary. These words help us to consider in God's presence the necessity to renew our academic and spiritual life, a necessary path if we are to carry out the mission the Lord has entrusted to us ”. “All with Peter ”, means considering “the Holy Father as a real father, present in our hearts; a father whom we must accompany with filial love with our prayers and our work ”.
After the Mass in his address in the John Paul II Aula Magna Giovanni Paolo the rector Mgr. Mariano Fazio illustrated the activity of Santa Croce during the last academic year. “I consider it a privilege, indeed a grace from God to be able to work in Rome in this pontificate of Pope Benedict XVI - said Mgr. Fazio -. His illuminated teaching makes us realise that continual interaction of faith and reason broadens the vision and enables us to identify solutions for the serious difficulties of our day”. The rector's address was followed by a splendid conference given by Prof. María Angeles Vitoria, of the Faculty of Philosophy on the theme “Broadening reason. A reflection based on science”.
During the inauguration ceremony gratitude was expressed for the restructured Palazzo dell’Apollinare - four years of work made possible by the generosity of numerous benefactors all over the world. In the year 2006-2007, the number of registered students was 1,503 from 79 different countries. Some 1,012 followed courses at one of the four Faculties and 491 at the Apollinare Higher Institute of Religious Science. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 9/10/2007 - righe 27, parole 372)
