Legionaries working at universities in Mexico, Spain, and Italy participated in a gathering on university pastoral care organized by the Holy See.
On November 23 and 24, the Dicastery for Culture and Education organized in Rome a Meeting for Chaplains and Heads of University Pastoral Care, “Towards a multifaceted vision,” with representatives from Catholic universities around the world. During these days, they analyzed and reflected on the purpose and mission of university pastoral care, and also shared and discussed the best experiences in this field.
On November 24, the participants celebrated a concelebrated Eucharist at the altar of the chair in St. Peter’s Basilica, and afterwards, they were received in a private audience by Pope Francis at the Apostolic Palace. Among the Legionaries who attended the meeting are Fr. Manuel Reyes, L.C. (Anáhuac Puebla), Jesús Parreño, L.C. (European University of Rome), Justo Gómez, L.C. (Francisco de Vitoria University), and Michael Baggot, L.C.
The Network of Anáhuac Universities (RUA) was represented by its president, Pepe Mata, who is also rector of Anáhuac University in Puebla. When greeting the Pope, Pepe Mata showed him a RUA flag and asked for his blessing. Carmen María Rojo, technical secretary of the International Network of Universities of the Regnum Christi (RIU), and Fernando Viñado, director of comprehensive training at Francisco de Vitoria University, also participated in the Meeting.
For his part, Fr. Manuel Reyes, L.C., gifted the Pope a piece of Talavera pottery in the shape of an “A,” representing the cornerstone of one of the new buildings of an Anáhuac university. Fr. Manuel asked if he could keep it in his room “so he could pray for us, that we may be promoters of culture and development as the Church has always been.”
Pope’s Speech during the Meeting for Chaplains and Heads of University Pastoral Care
In Spanish:
3 important attitudes for university pastoral care, according to Pope Francis – https://es.zenit.org/2023/11/26/3-actitudes-importantes-para-la-pastoral-universitaria-segun-el-papa-francisco/
In English:
Pope Highlights Three Important Attitudes for University Pastoral Care – https://zenit.org/2023/11/26/pope-highlights-three-important-attitudes-for-university-pastoral-care/
