At the Catholic University, dialogue between Cardinal Matteo Zuppi and the Rector Elena Beccalli: “An educational community, architect of hope”

At the University’s Rome campus, conclusion of the study seminar that annually brings together theology lecturers and pastoral assistants: from 9 to 12 September, meetings and sessions for in-depth cultural, theological and scientific studies

Rome, 12 September 2024 – “The university is not only a place where content is learned, but also where young people are helped to understand the dimension of ‘us’” – remarked Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, archbishop of Bologna and president of the Italian Episcopal Conference, in one of the most significant passages of his address in his dialogue with Professor Elena Beccalli, rector of the Catholic University, moderated by Alessandro Zaccuri, the University’s Communication Director. The discussion took place today, 12 September, at the Rome campus, and concluded the four-day Study Seminar which annually brings together theology lecturers and pastoral assistants, this year entitled “Generators of hope. On the move with young people in the light of the Jubilee”.

“At times we think that being generators of hope means giving security. This security is fine, but one must dream, hope and transmit passion”, continued Cardinal Zuppi. “May the Jubilee, a public event that also has an impact on social life, be a time for true change, understanding, help and at the same time also for the nurturing of passions”.

“The Catholic University and we researchers have a great responsibility: we must consider ourselves true ‘architects of hope’, through studies and changes that can bring about a change in outlook with regard to the present time”, said Rector Beccalli. “This is possible by listening to and understanding the young, and directing everything towards an educational perspective. Working alongside young people by taking care of them, educating them in the desire to participate in social life, as well as in the construction of projects, is a seed planted to foster hope”.

In dialogue on the theme of education, research, the world of work, the expectations of young people and the relationship between generations, Cardinal Zuppi emphasized how “in the current context, marked by numerous wars, hope seems not to exist. But hope goes further and looks for what is now unseen. It is to begin a search now, but whose fruit will only be seen with the passing of time: this is why Christian hope responds to the hope of the world”.

Professor Beccalli added, “as a lecturer, I can say that there is a great desire to participate among young people; therefore, we must take nothing for granted, but on the contrary know how to understand and cultivate ever little thing, starting precisely from the new arrivals”.

“Our task is also that of educating young people in awareness of limits, which must not be seen as something negative”, continued Professor Beccalli. “Society raises the bar creating disillusionment among the young, but in reality, even limits have a value from which we must draw for our personal growth and for that of society”.

“The hope is that all young people who in our schools – a lot have come from many other countries – find the security to demonstrate their capacities, and the stimulus”, Cardinal Zuppi said. “I am not talking only about job and life security, but also intellectual and professional stimuli, the taste for building something beautiful and new. Sometimes there are few stimuli, there is little stability, we see a pitiless difference in salaries between abroad and us. Let us work so that these young people find many stimuli, for which it is not only worthwhile to stay, but also to be happy to stay in order to build with creativity something that does not yet exist”.

The day continued with the three Panels of the Laboratories of Hope in the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, with the participation of Professor Antonio Gasbarrini, dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, and Professor Antonella Occhino, dean of the Faculty of Economics, dedicated to medical sciences, new technologies, solidarity and ethical challenges; democratic culture and sustainable citizenship; and poverty, debt, finance and the new economy.

At the end, Bishop Claudio Giuliodori, general ecclesiastical assistant of the Catholic University and chair of the Episcopal Commission for Catholic education, schools and universities, formulated the conclusions of the Study Seminar: “In these four days we have shared a very intense programme, addressing issues that contribute to the growth of each one of us and the entire university community, together with the awareness of how vast is the potential of each of us and in a dimension of knowledge that, with the help of ethics and theology, becomes wisdom”, said the Bishop. “Hope is the living memory of the future, and the future is not uncertainty, but the expectation of a fulfilment already in the making: this is the call to participate in the Jubilee event in order to go even deeper into the dynamisms of both the social community and the academic community. The world moves forward in complexity and in continuous and difficult challenges, but it is generative precisely because of the hope that for us is sure and well rooted”.