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Catholic World News News Feature

New European University devoted to Christian culture January 10, 2006

Christian leaders in higher education must help to stem Europe's "detachment from Christianity," Cardinal Camillo Ruini said on January 10.

Cardinal Ruini, the vicar for the Rome diocese, spoke at the inauguration of a new European University in Rome, founded by the Legionaries of Christ. He said that in light of the powerful trend toward secularization in Europe, the university must work to arrest that trend, in order to preserve the patrimony of European culture for future generations.

"The Church looks upon the world of culture and research with great attention and interest," Cardinal Ruini said. He welcomed "the emergence of a new university structure," inspired by Christian faith and a desire to promote Christian culture, as a "positive and encouraging" development in the academic world. In particular the cardinal applauded the new university's commitment to serve Europe as a whole, promoting the unification as well as preservation of the European culture.

The task of an institution devoted to the Christian cultural heritage will be a demanding one, Cardinal Ruini continued. But it is also a necessity. He recalled then-Cardinal Ratzinger, speaking at Subiaco shortly before his election as Pope Benedict XVI, called for the emergence of Christian leaders who base their perspective on their faith. The cardinal concluded by saluting the students who are beginning the new academic term, encouraging them to understand that they are entering "a particularly important phase of your lives-- a decisive step toward maturity."

The European University in Rome was formally opened with a prayer and benediction from Cardinal Ruini, at a ceremony attended by Rome's Mayor Walter Veltroni and the President of the Italian Senate, Marcello Pera. The new institution, which has won the recognition of the Italian government, is dedicated primarily to Christian students and others who are "open to transcendent values," as the rector, Father Paolo Scarafoni, explained.

The new school has absorbed the pontifical university Regina Apostolorum, an institution founded by the Legionaires of Christ in 1993. The university will offer courses of study in philosophy, history, psychology, and law. Its goal, Father Scarafoni said, is to provide students with "an integral formation," preparing them for "the challenge of collaboration in the creation of a European culture, with particular attention to the contribution of Christian learning in all these fields."