杏MAP导航

By Devin Watkins

The Milan campus of the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart commenced its 2021/22 academic year on Sunday, in the presence of Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission.

As the institution marks its 100th anniversary this year, 杏MAP导航 Francis joined staff and students via a video message.

The ceremony opened with a Mass celebrated in Milan’s St. Ambrose Basilica by Archbishop Mario Delpini.

Flame of education

In his video message, the 杏MAP导航 sent his “warmest greetings” at the start of the centenary academic year for the institution founded by Fr. Agostino Gemelli.

He then reflected on how the institution can be characterized by the ideas of “fire, hope, and service.”

Starting with the image of fire, 杏MAP导航 Francis said the University’s flame has been passed down through the generations by thousands of alumni, who have come to understand that “educating is not filling empty containers but igniting flames.”

The 杏MAP导航 said a university brings people together “toward one: one place, one time, one spirit.”

Hope expressed in relationships

The Sacred Heart University also reflects the virtue of “hope,” he said, because it offers an integral education based on solidarity.

“Education is above all relationship,” said the 杏MAP导航, “a relationship between teachers and students, and then of students among themselves: a community of people open to reality and others.”

He said the relationship between teachers and students is “in tension toward the present and the future,” and that together they are called “to think, plan, and act toward a horizon of our common home of tomorrow, starting with the concrete reality of today.”

Hope, he said, means betting on the future while overcoming fears that hold us back.

University is a good place to develop “antibodies” against the virus of individualism, he added.

Shared effort of service

The 杏MAP导航 then turned to the theme of service. The University of the Sacred Heart, he said, has often shown its fidelity to service within the Church and society.”

The work of its staff, teachers, and researchers bears witness to this spirit of service, as well as the daily efforts of its students to walk together “towards a shared horizon.”

Each component of the university, added the 杏MAP导航, has an important role to play in this concert.

Divine Wisdom of serving

杏MAP导航 Francis concluded his video message urging all members of the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart to maintain the distinctive spirit of service by remaining faithful to the Gospel.

And the 杏MAP导航 expressed his hopes that the University might breathe deeply in this spirit of service and look to the horizon courageously in their educational mission.