The Pope called this Friday to Latin American Catholic universities to form “intelligence with a critical sense” y “citizens committed to the common good” during an audience with representatives of the Organization of Catholic Universities of Latin America and the Caribbean, ODUCAL.
On the occasion of the Jubilee this weekend of the Educational World, the Pope stated in the meeting held in the Vatican Apostolic Palace, that “the proposal of Catholic higher education is none other than seeking the integral development of the human personforming intelligence with a critical sense, believing hearts and citizens committed to the common good.”
Leo XIV highlighted the value of the more than one hundred institutions grouped in ODUCALwhich contribute “to the progress of Catholic higher education and to the service of society, creating spaces for encounter between faith and culture.”
“The Catholic university, as Pope Francis stated,” he said, quoting his predecessor the Argentine pontiff, “remains one of the best instruments that the Church offers to our time”.
Robert Francis Prevost, who is American by birth and Peruvian by adoption, highlighted the historical role of the church in the creation and development of the first universities on the continent, such as those of Santo Domingo, San Marcos de Lima and Mexico.
León recalled the words of Pope John Paul II in his apostolic constitution “Ex Corde Ecclesiae” about the identity and mission of Catholic universities worldwide and recalled that they were born within the Church as “a center of creativity and irradiation of knowledge for the good of humanity.”
The ODUCAL organization was created in 1957. Brings together universities and higher education centers throughout Latin America and the Caribbean with the aim of promoting academic cooperation and research in the educational field.
On Thursday, the Pope met with thousands of students from around the world in the Paul VI Hall and in St. Peter’s Square in the afternoon, due to the number of young people overflowed the meeting placeforcing him to move.
Leo XIV looked very happy and remembered the years when taught mathematics. He encouraged young people to be “a beacon of hope in the dark hours of history.”
“How nice it would be one day for your generation to be recognized as the plus generationremembered for the boost they will give to the Church and the world,” encouraged the pontiff, highlighting the enthusiasm of the thousands of young people who applauded him.
He also asked them to “be bearers of truth and builders of peace” and involve their contemporaries in the search for truth and in the cultivation of peace, expressing these two passions with their lives, their words and their daily gestures.” Remembering Galileo Galilei, he indicated the need to “look beyond” y don’t stop looking at the phone, Look at the sky, up high.”
He stressed that behind “the episodes of unrest, violence, harassment, oppression” there is a void excavated by a society incapable of educating the spiritual dimension because it is focused only on the technical, social or moral field of the human person.
León insisted on one of the themes that are marking the beginning of his pontificate: the use of technology. “You live in it and that is not the bad thing, there are enormous opportunities for study and communication. But don’t let the algorithm write your story! You be the authors, use technology wisely but don’t let technology use you,” he emphasized.
He asked the students to “instead of being online tourists Be prophets in the digital world!”.
He reiterated his request to everyone of the need “for an education for unarmed and disarming peace.”
“In fact, it is not enough to silence the weapons, it is necessary to disarm heartsrenouncing all violence and vulgarity”he explained.
In the end, he stressed the need for an education that recognizes “the same dignity of each boy and girl without ever dividing the young between a few who have access to very expensive schools and many who do not have access to education.”