Note on the death of the Holy Father Pope Francis

The Universidade Católica Portuguesa expresses its deep sorrow at the death of His Holiness Pope Francis. His departure leaves a deep sorrow in all believers and in those who found in his words and gestures a luminous witness of faith, humility, closeness and hope.

Hope was not only the motto of his life, but his legacy, a particularly relevant message in a world of dissent and contradictions, where Pope Francis was the ultimate ethical leader.

We remember with particular emotion the visit of His Holiness to our University on the occasion of World Youth Day in August 2023. It was an unforgettable and deeply moving moment for the entire academic community. At that meeting, Pope Francis called for the courage of free thinking and a commitment to an integral ecology, challenging young people to fight against complacency and fear ‘...have the courage to replace fears with dreams: do not be managers of fears, but entrepreneurs of dreams!’ On this occasion, when we were all pilgrims, the Universidade Católica was challenged to contribute to a fairer, more humane and more supportive world. Pope Francis encouraged us to be ‘social poets’, able to imagine and building alternatives that transform reality with freedom and creativity, and urged us to combine academic excellence with ethical and social commitment. It is precisely this spirit that is present in two initiatives dedicated to him: the Pope Francis Fund to support refugee and migrant students and the Francis and Clare Economics Chair.

At this time of mourning, we reaffirm our commitment to the legacy of Pope Francis. May his life, dedicated to the service of the poorest, interreligious dialogue, climate justice and the culture of encounter, continue to inspire our journey as a Catholic University. May his witness of tenderness and firmness, of simplicity and wisdom, help us to be, as he asked, ‘artisans of the future’.

We pray for the eternal rest of His Holiness and entrust to his intercession the future of youth and the educational mission entrusted to us.

Isabel Capeloa Gil
President