Pope Francis encouraged students not to be affected by the “virus of individualism” and added that the university “is the right place to develop antibodies” against this virus.
“Don’t let the virus of individualism infect you. It is ugly and it hurts. The university is the right place to develop antibodies against this virus: the university opens the mind to reality and diversity; there you can put your talents into play and make them available to everyone, “said the Holy Father in a video message released this December 19. The Pontiff was speaking on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Universidad Católica del Sacro Cuore.
The Pope addressed a special greeting to the Archbishop of Milan, Mgr Mario Delpini, and to the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, present at the inauguration of the academic year that celebrates the centenary of the foundation by Agostino Gemelli.
The Holy Father also encouraged the students “in these confusing times, even more, complex due to the pandemic, I repeat: do not let hope be stolen!” and added that “education is one of the most effective means to humanize the world and history.”
Later, the Pope recognized that the Catholic University of Sacro Cuore has “an important educational tradition, which has come to life thanks to the dedication of hundreds of men and women and which thousands of graduates have witnessed.”
“As the ancients understood very well: educating is not filling vases but lighting fires. The Catholic University guards this fire and, therefore, can transmit it because the only way to do it is ‘by contact’, that is, through personal and community witness, ”the Pope told teachers, employees, and students.
Along these lines, the Holy Father pointed out that “those who educate, in effect, look to the future with confidence, and carry out an action – that of educating – that involves various actors in society, to offer students an education integral, the fruit of the experiences and sensibilities of many ”.
To this end, the Pope emphasized the importance of hope that consists of “betting on the future overcoming the natural impulse that comes from the many fears that run the risk of immobilizing us, fixing us, and locking ourselves in an eternal and illusory present.”