VATICAN - Italian Federation of Catholic Universities “FUCI has contributed towards the formation of whole generations of exemplary Christians, who put into practice and spread the Gospel at the cultural, civil, social and ecclesial level ” Pope Benedict XVI recalls

Monday, 12 November 2007

Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - The Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI on November 9 received in audience a delegation of the Italian Federation of Catholic Universities F.U.C.I., on the occasion of the 110th anniversary of the foundation of the Federation. In his address the Pontiff reflected on these past 110 years: “How can we fail to acknowledge that FUCI has contributed towards the formation of whole generations of exemplary Christians, who put into practice and spread the Gospel at the cultural, civil, social and ecclesial level?”. The Pope mentioned Blessed Piergiorgio Frassati and Blessed Alberto Martelli; Aldo Moro and Vittorio Bachelet, both victims of brutal murder; and Pope Paul VI, central ecclesiastic assistant to FUCI in the difficult years of Fascism, and Mgr. Emilio Guano and Mgr. Franco Costa.
In the last ten years FUCI has rediscovered its peculiar university dimension. “It is precisely in this area- said Benedict XVI - that FUCI can fully live its old and always new charisma: convinced witness of the ‘possible friendship’ between intelligence and faith, which calls for tireless effort to combine striving to grow in faith with and to acquire scientific knowledge… Why think that those who have faith must renounce quest in freedom for the truth, and that those who seek the truth in freedom must renounce the faith? Instead it is possible, precisely during studies at university and thanks to them to achieve authentic human, scientific and spiritual maturity”.
The Holy Father then underlined that study “is a providential opportunity to grow in the faith, because a well nurtured intelligence, opens the heart to listen to the voice of God, stressing the importance of discernment and humility… Today as in the past, those who wish to be disciples of Christ are called to go against the tide, to avoid interested and persuasive calls coming from various pulpits which propagate behaviour based on arrogance and violence, overbearingness and conquest of success at all cost. Today in society we see a sometimes unleashed race to have unfortunately at the expense of being, and the Church, an expert in humanity, never tires of urging people, especially the new generations, to which you belong, to take ‘alternative’ paths which only Christ indicates”. Pope Benedict XVI concluded urging the students to strive to acquire a sense of responsibility and concern for the common good: “May University years be time to train for convinced and courageous testimony to the Gospel. And to achieve your mission, strive to build up an intimate friendship with the divine Master, learning from Mary, the Seat of Wisdom”. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 12/11/2007; righe 33, parole 457)


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