Católica launches biography of Mário Pinto

"The biography of Professor Mário Campos Pinto presents an outstanding jurist, a champion of educational freedom and a fighter for a truly open society", words from Isabel Capeloa Gil, President of the Universidade Católica Portuguesa, which marked the launch of the biography of Professor Mário Pinto, which took place on 15 December, at the UCP. 

This is the third volume of the Timeline - Timeless Biographies collection, published by Universidade Católica Editora, a series born from the partnership between the Amélia de Mello Foundation and the Universidade Católica Portuguesa (UCP), and aims to make known the legacy of one of the founders of the Universidade Católica Portuguesa.

"We are facing a man of free thought and action, a fervent and conscientious Catholic" said Isabel Capeloa Gil, adding that "despite having an attachment to the past, we are facing a man of the future."

Luís Barbosa, representative of the Amélia de Mello Foundation, pointed out that this biography, written by Joana Reis, "makes evident to everyone the exceptional life of an outstanding personality of our society, Professor Mário Pinto.

Paulo Campos Pinto, professor at the Universidade Católica and son of the honoured, witnessed "with the heart of a son" the life of his father, "Freedom was, and is, a common denominator in the struggle for their causes. But he does not situate it only in the sphere of his public activity. It is also a mark he imprints on his family environment."

For the author and researcher, Joana Reis, UCP professor and CNN journalist, the biographer "leaves a deep mark on this house," mentioning that the "social doctrine of the Church was always his guiding thread." According to the author, Mário Pinto is an "organic Catholic who does not dissociate in his life what he says and what he does."

Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, President of the Portuguese Republic, who presided over the launching session of this biography, stated that Mário Pinto is a "very special person", a "pedagogue, dense thinker, attractive communicator, whole politician in the action of a tireless militant for the Common Good."

During the ceremony, the President of the Republic awarded Mário Pinto with the Grand Cross of the Order of Public Instruction.

Present at the session were Prof. Cavaco Silva, Pedro Passos Coelho, José Ribeiro e Castro, Diogo Feio, Pacheco Pereira, Luís Marques Mendes, among others.