(ANS – Rome) – The inauguration of the academic year at the Pontifical Salesian University (UPS) in Rome was started by a Mass presided over by Fr. Pascual Chavez Villanueva, Rector Major of the Salesians, and Chancellor of the UPS. The Minister for Integration and International Co-operation, Andrea Riccardi, was also present during the event. All were invited by a call to unity and integration for Church, society and the academic centre.

Present at the ceremony, held at the parish church of Santa Maria della Speranza, was the Apostolic Nuncio, Mons. Albert Tan, Fr Francesco Cereda, General Councillor for Formation, Mons. Maurizio Viviani, Director of the National Office of the Italian Episcopal Conference for Education, Schools and Universities, and representatives of some Embassies to the Holy See.

The Chancellor pointed out that the academic year opened to coincide with certain events called "stimuli for spiritual renewal": the 50th  Anniversary of the beginning of the Second Vatican Council, the Synod of Bishops, the Year of Faith and the second year of preparation for the Bicentenary of the birth of Don Bosco. The new social, economic and political background against which we live our human lives and try to develop the Mission of the Church causes us to be isolated, distracted, indifferent, confused. There are three solutions that have in the leading role the spiritual man, a disciple of Christ.

The first is the unifying force of the Gospel for the building of Europe. You can't get a real and solid "European Community" apart from the Spirit, "which is what creates unity in diversity".

The second track: In the Christian perspective the variety of service should not generate competition, as for the Christians of Corinth, leading characters of the biblical passage, commented on by Fr Chavez. "Diversity should not encourage the clash nor the competition, but unity and understanding, and must work to the same end ".

The third track is the capacity for forgiveness and reconciliation. To be new men in order to make a new humanity. You must remember that it is new, thanks to the Spirit given by the Risen One, solely to give courage at every turn of history and of society.

"What I fear," said the Rector Major "is a Christian life which is meaningless; and that being a Christian means nothing, having nothing to say, not bothering anyone when it is not spiritual. The importance of faith today depends on its identity and not the degree of social acceptance," said Fr Chavez by specifying that "we need to ‘up the ante’ and risk clarity, that is to talk openly about us, what we want, what we are calling for, without lessening the claims and demands". He concluded with a request to the University community of the UPS: "Be open to the spirit, so as to combine science and wisdom, walk with humility the road to truth and service".

In the Paul VI Hall, during the course of the academic event, then spoke Mr. Riccardi with a lecture on ‘Integration and cooperation: hope for the future’. In his speech, making an assessment of the work of the Ministry, he denounced the lack of an Italian model of integration, although there is now evident data of an increasing presence of immigrants in Italy. "The crisis of cooperation is an indication of the introversion of the system in Italy – he said, pointing out that – working for integration today is a gesture of confidence in the future of the country [...] Cooperation will be a face of a new extrovert Italy, capable of being in the world responsibly, sympathetically, without fear ".

The Rector Magnifico, Fr Carlo Nanni, finally, in his speech commemorated Fr Roberto Giannatelli, who ‘passed away’ a few days earlier, "a lover of Don Bosco, who edited the pedagogical-pastoral vocation of the Salesians, in the Church, in the world, in an interdisciplinary connection between the faculties of the University."

Published 22/10/2012