Finding God in temporal realities, the goal of the University of the Holy Cross
Don Luis Navarro, a native of San Sebastián, Spain, has been rector of the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross since 2016, in addition to being a professor and former Dean of the Faculty of Canon Law at the same University in Rome.
Training in Rome
Why is it good for a priest and a seminarian to be formed in Rome?
Well, because Rome is the cradle of Christianity! Indeed, a few years ago Pope Benedict, addressing the students of Roman universities, told them that “the possibility of studying in Rome, seat of the Successor of Peter and therefore of the Petrine ministry, helps you to reinforce the sense of belonging to the Church and the commitment of fidelity to the universal magisterium of the Pope”.
Formation and communion at the same time ...
It's true. The sense of union with the whole Church is strengthened in the Eternal City. Walking the streets where so many holy women and men have walked is impressive and an incentive for everyone.
In addition, to this is added another factor: in Rome the universality of the Church is touched. You see, you talk, you live with Catholics from all over the world: people of very diverse cultures, traditions, races and at the same time very close because they believe, announce and love Jesus Christ. Discovering this opens a great horizon in the interior life: I am a member of the great family of God.
Seven Pontifical Universities
And that is why in Rome there are several pontifical universities ...
Yes, and the most important, since they have a greater tradition, have their headquarters in Rome: there are currently seven.
But what precisely is a pontifical university?
The Pontifical Universities are academic institutions recognized as such by the Holy See, destined to the teaching and research of the sacred sciences. All of them have traditional studies: Theology, Philosophy, and Canon Law.
And does that title of "pontifical" have a particular meaning?
Of course! In fact, it carries a special responsibility of union and fidelity to the Holy Father.
"The pontifical universities carry a special responsibility of union and fidelity to the Holy Father"
It is not just a university for priests
So it does not just mean that it is a university for priests ...
Well no. Of course, in its origin there are the schools in which seminarians, priests from European countries and religious of various orders and congregations were formed above all. But over the centuries the student population has opened up to the presence of lay faithful. All of God's people are represented in our universities.
Open to the world
And within this complex reality of the Pontifical Universities, what is the peculiar characteristic of the Pontificia Università della Santa Croce, as it is called in Italian?
The "Santa Croce" is characterized on the one hand by being open to the world, in dialogue with secular culture. Both in teaching and in research there is a careful look at the problems of the world, all of us being aware that from the sacred sciences we can contribute to the search for truth. Topics such as anthropology, social doctrine, defense of life, are the object of our study. Furthermore, the vast majority of our professors have obtained civil academic degrees in the different fields of knowledge, which facilitates this dialogue.
Very interesting! Above all, because sometimes many people think that the Church is a reality far from the world ...
No, not at all: in the formation of our students it is sought that they are in a position to help the men and women of their country to find God precisely in temporal realities. Most of the faithful are citizens who need to receive a formation that allows them to be saints in their ordinary life.
12,000 students from 1,000 dioceses
It seems to me that it is in the DNA of the University of which you are rector, right?
That's how it is! The Pontifical University of Santa Croce was born in 1984 by a wish of Blessed Álvaro del Portillo and the support of Saint John Paul II. In this way, an idea of Saint Josemaría Escrivá was concretized, the desire that our students be people who know how to serve everyone, seeing Christ in each person.
A very young university, well ...
Yes. I remember that I came to teach in September 1986, that is, two years after the foundation. It was a very small reality, only 300 students… However, since then around 12,000 students, coming from almost a thousand dioceses and 200 religious congregations, have passed through our classrooms and our corridors. Now there are 1,500 students and four Faculties: Theology, Philosophy, Canon Law and Institutional Social Communication, the most recent and the one that has a unique conformation among all the other Pontifical Universities.
Always maintaining this fidelity to the desire of Saint Josemaría for a contribution to the new evangelization through formation.
Sure! That is also why, apart from the main Faculties, there are the Higher Institute of Religious Sciences and several Research Centers. It is a challenge, difficult in our times but in which we put all our efforts, since, with the formation that we transmit, we wish to contribute to the new evangelization, to make society receive the message of Christ. With the collaboration of: Gerardo Ferrara. CARF representative in Rome, writer and history expert in the Middle East.
With the collaboration of: Gerardo Ferrara. CARF representative in Rome, writer and history expert in the Middle East.
