On June 19, Fr. Carlos Gutiérrez, L.C., Director General of the Legionaries of Christ, participated for the first time as Grand Chancellor in the graduation ceremony for the Faculties of Philosophy and Theology. After addressing the academic community and presenting the diplomas, Fr. Carlos celebrated Holy Mass and spent time with the new graduates.

On June 19, Fr. Carlos Gutiérrez, L.C., Director General of the Legionaries of Christ and Grand Chancellor of the Pontifical Athenaeum Regina Apostolorum, participated for the first time in his latter capacity in an academic event at the institution. On this occasion, he presided over the graduation ceremony for students receiving their Bachelor’s and Licentiate degrees in Philosophy and Theology.

Father Carlos inaugurated the event with a speech addressed to the graduates, professors, family members, and other members of the academic community. He emphasized that “the greatness of God, the inexhaustible richness of Revelation, and the constant progress of human knowledge remind us that the path to truth never ends. The degree you receive today is not a destination, but a stage: it does not grant definitive knowledge, but a thirst for knowledge that will last a lifetime.” He further stated that “evangelizing culture means precisely this: extending a hand and renewing from within the criteria for judgment, the values, the lines of thought, and the models of life of our time, wherever culture is born and transmitted: in the family, in education, in the media, in the world of art, literature, and music, in politics and law, in economics and business. For this, goodwill alone is not enough: a solid intellectual formation is needed, one capable of understanding the world and engaging in dialogue with it.”

Evangelizing culture means precisely this: extending a hand and renewing from within the criteria of judgment, the values, the lines of thought, and the models of life of our time, wherever culture is born and transmitted.

He then personally presented the diplomas and medals to the students, thus sharing a very meaningful moment with each of them.

At the conclusion of the ceremony, and after the traditional group photograph in front of the Ateneo building, Father Carlos went to the International School, where he presided over and preached at Holy Mass with the community. Finally, he joined the graduates for a luncheon held in their honor.