VATICAN - “To have meaning in relation to the Kingdom of God, the fatigue of study and teaching, must be sustained by the theological virtues” the Pope recalls during his visit to the Pontifical Gregorian University

Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - During the morning of Friday 3 November Pope Benedict XVI paid a visit to the Pontifical Gregorian University. After a moment of personal prayer in the university chapel the Holy Father went to the University Four-Sided Portico to meet teachers, students and benefactors. He was welcomed by the University’s Rector Fr. Gianfranco Ghirlanda, Fr. Bryan Lobo student representative and secretary general Mr. Luigi Allena. In his address the Pope recalled the fact that the Jesuit University was founded in 1551 by the founder of the Society of Jesus, Saint Ignatius himself.
“I am happy to be here in this Portico which I have crossed on various occasions” the Pope said referring to when he was one of the Experts taking part in Vatican II and later as Professor of Dogmatics. “With the same familiarity of those times I say to you today dear professors and students, that to have meaning in relation to the Kingdom of God, the fatigue of study and teaching, must be sustained by the theological virtues. In fact, the immediate goal of theological science in its different specialities, is God, who revealed himself in Jesus Christ, God with a human face … The study of Theology, Canon Law and Church History is not only knowledge of the propositions of the faith in the historical formulation and practical application, it is also and always intelligence of these in faith, hope and charity. Only the Spirit is able to scan the profundity of God and therefore only by listening to the Spirit can we scan the profundity of God’s greatness, wisdom and knowledge”.
The Holy Father spoke about the origins of the Gregorian University, the famous teachers philosophers and theologians of the past and new challenges of the present times. “Today we cannot disregard secular culture which tends increasingly in many parts of the world not only to deny all sign of the presence of God in the life of society and the individual but also with various means, which mislead and dull upright consciences, tries to corrode man’s capacity to listen to God. Nor can we ignore relations with other religions, which is constructive only if it avoids all ambiguity which in a way weakens the essential content of Christian faith in Christ the only Saviour of all men and women and in the Church sacrament necessary for salvation for all humanity .”
Referring to other human sciences studied at the University the Pope said “precisely because these sciences concern humanity they cannot fail to refer to God … the destiny of humanity without reference to God can only be desolation and anguish which lead to desperation. Only in reference to God-Love, revealed in Jesus Christ, the human person finds the meaning of human existence and living in hope, despite the experience of evils which wound his personal existence and the society in which we live”. “It is in this perspective that you Professors and Docents at the Gregorian, are called to form the students entrusted to you by the Church” the Pope said underlining that the integral formation of young people is one of the traditional apostolates of the Society of Jesus entrusted, through the centuries, with various national colleges and institutes, “to guarantee formation of the clergy in those nations where unity of faith and community with the Apostolic See had been broken ”.
Expressing satisfaction for the closing stage of the revision of the University’s Statutes and the Regulations of the different Faculties, Institutes and Centres, Pope Benedict XVI recalled that as a Pontifical college the Gregorian University strives to “sentire in Ecclesia et cum Ecclesia. This commitment stems from love for the Church our Mother and Bride of Christ. We must love the Church as Christ loved Her. Taking on ourselves the sufferings of the world and the Church to complete what is lacking in the sufferings of Christ in our own flesh. This will form new generations of priests, religious and committed lay men and women”.
The teachers strive to “form priests who are learned but at the same time ready to consume their life with undivided heart, in a life of austerity and humility in service of all whom the Lord will entrust to their ministry”; to offer religious men and women “sound intellectual formation to enable them to live with joy their consecration as a gift from God, and serve as eschatological signs of the future life to which all are called”; to form lay competent men and women “to serve in the offices of the Church and be first and foremost leaven of God in the temporal sphere”. “Nevertheless dear students, formation is also your responsibility, - the Pope continued -. Of course study demands constant ascesis and abnegation, but precisely this is the path on which the person is formed for sacrifice and sense of duty ”. Last of all the Pope re-entrusted the Gregorian to the spiritual sons of Saint Ignatius: “The Gregorian University still today, after 456 years, is the place which fully achieves the desire of St Ignatius and his first companions to help souls to love and serve God in everything for His greater glory”. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 6/11/2006, righe 61, parole 888)