Vatican City (Fides Service) - With a solemn concelebration of Mass and the invocation of the Holy Spirit presided this evening October 10, by Card. Crescenzio Sepe, prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples and grand chancellor of the pontifical Urban University the academic year 2005/2006 of the pontifical Urban University will be officially opened. The Mass, held in the University Chapel at 6pm will be followed by the announcement of the opening of the academic year in the University Aula Magna.
The pontifical Urban University was elevated to the rank of Pontifical university in 1962 by Pope John XXIII. It has its roots in Urban College founded by Pope Urban VIII with the Papal Bull "Immortalis Dei Filius" 1 August 1627. The college has always been a missionary institution at the service of the Church in her missionary apostolate and to form missionaries and experts in the field of Missiology and other disciplines necessary for the Church’s evangelising activity. Since 1966 Urban University has accepted affiliations with seminaries and institutes of philosophy, theology, missiology and Canon Law Africa, Asia, America, Oceania and in Europe. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 10/10/2005 - Righe 16; Parole 198)