EUROPE/ITALY - On the way to the 6th European Day for University Students: International Congress on “Europe and the Americas Together to Build a Civilization of Love.”

Rome (Agenzia Fides) - This afternoon, in the Pontifical Gregorian University, will be the opening of the International Congress on “Europe and the Americas Together to Build a Civilization of Love,” organized in conjunction with the 6th European Day for University Students, by the office for University Pastoral Ministry for the Diocese of Rome, collaborating with members of the Italian section of the European Commission and the Ministry of the Exterior.
There will be speeches from the Rector of the Gregorian University, Fr. Gianfranco Guirnalda; Pier Virgilio Dastoli, director Italian Representation of the European Commission; as well as, general director Alain Giorgio Maria Economides; Ambassador Paolo Bruni, secretary general of the Italian Latin American Institute; Emilio Iodice, director of the John Felice Rome Centre of Loyola University of Chicago. Additional talks will be given on the theme: “The common roots and historical ties of Europe and America,” by Florencio Hubeñak, of the Catholic Pontifical University of Argentina, and Bianca Maria Tedeschini Lalli, the University Roma Tre.
The Congress will proceed with three main sessions: “Europe and America in Global Society,” “The Role of University Education in the Challenges of Development,” and “Cultures and Models for the University Amidst Globalization.” On Saturday, March 2, a round-table discussion is planned to take place in the morning. The discussion will have 2 parts: “The Problem of the Brain Flight, United States-Latin America-Europe” and “The Experience and Perspectives of University Cooperation for an Integral and Solid Development.” In the afternoon, the participants in the Congress will attend the Marian Vigil with university students, presided by Pope Benedict XVI in Paul VI Hall, in the Vatican. (SL) (Agenzia Fides 28/2/2008; righe 24, parole 270)