Rome, October 6, 2025
Dear students, faculty, staff, and alumni,
As we embark on this new academic year, my first thought is one of profound gratitude to the Lord for the celebrations marking the 40th anniversary of our University. These have been intense and emotionally rich months: the photographic exhibition allowed us to relive, year by year, the moments that have marked our history - from our origins in 1984 to the audience with the late Pope Francis in 2023; the shared choice of our new institutional motto, Omnes traham ad meipsum, has provided a luminous synthesis of our mission for the future; and finally, the tribute to the "pioneers" has shown us with
On Tuesday, October 7, 2025, the inauguration ceremony for the new academic year 2025/26 was held. On that occasion, four Honorary Doctorates were conferred by the various Schools.
For the School of Theology, the honor was granted to Cardinal Kurt Koch, Prefect of the Dicastery for the Promotion of Christian Unity, for his contribution to the study of ecumenical issues.
For the School of Canon Law, the title was awarded to Professor Helmuth Pree, who had concluded his career at the University of München, for having collaborated with our School through seminars, elective courses, and
Wednesday, October 8, 2025 (11:40 AM, Giovanni Paolo II Aula Magna), as a welcoming moment and now established tradition, the Welcome Day for new students was held.
The event began with introductory greetings from Prof. Sergio Destito, followed by a training session led by Prof. Sergio Tapia. In addition, several services for students were presented, including the Academic Office and the Library.
Concluding remarks were delivered by the Academic Vice‑Rector, Prof. Cristina Reyes.
At 12:45 PM, the celebration of Holy Mass was scheduled.
From September 23 to 25, 2025, the School of Theology held its Refresher Course entitled "How to Teach Social Morality Today."
The course was primarily designed to provide former students and theology teachers with tools and insights to deepen their understanding of key topics in social morality: human dignity, work, politics, economics, and ecology.
Link to the Course page
From September 18 to 20, 2025, the VIII Forum of Spiritual Theology Professors took place.
That year, the Forum was dedicated to exploring the distinctive and original features of various spiritual theologians, with the aim of highlighting the personal and experiential dimension that characterized their reflection. To this end, a true “symphony” of meaningful testimonies was presented, from which concrete insights were sought to guide the work of the spiritual theologian. The meeting concluded with an open space for dialogue and discussion, encouraging exchange and shared deepening.
Link to the Course page
The Italian Course for new students enrolled in the four Schools of our University began on Wednesday, September 3, 2025. A total of 115 students from various countries are taking part.
The one-month course is organized by the Department of Languages, in collaboration with the Dante Alighieri Society, which once again renews its commitment to promoting the learning of the Italian language from the very beginning of the university journey.
Educational Offer (Provisional) Academic Guide Enrollments
The digital version of the 2025/2026 Academic Guide is now available. Enrollment will open starting in September 2025. Classes are scheduled to begin on October 8, 2025
The School of Communication promoted a workshop as part of the Jubilee for digital missionaries and Catholic influencers, which took place in Rome on July 28 and 29, 2025.
To delve deeper into the theme of the digital mission, on Wednesday, July 30 (at 3 p.m., in Álvaro del Portillo Hall), the event titled “Let’s Talk About Digital Missionaries – Hablemos de los misioneros digitales” was held.
The workshop offered an interactive space for dialogue among students, communicators, Catholic influencers, and digital missionaries, and will be conducted in English and Spanish.
The session featured an address by Father Heriberto García Arias
In the context of a growing global interest among young people in spirituality and faith, the research group “Footprints: Young People, Faith, and Religious Experience” held its Expert Meeting on July 24, 2025, before the Youth Jubilee.
The meeting, titled “Sociological Research on Youth Religiosity: Methodologies, Challenges, and New Research Perspectives”, brought together international experts in education
