Pontifical University of the Holy Cross
Encyclopedia
Pontifical University of the Holy Cross (Pontificia Università della Santa Croce, in Italian) is a Roman Catholic
university
under the Curial
Congregation for Catholic Education
, which it has entrusted to the Prelature of the Holy Cross and Opus Dei
, or more commonly called Opus Dei. It was started in 1984 by Opus Dei
, with the aim of offering the universal church an effective instrument for formation and research.
Located in the heart of Rome
, it has two campuses. One is in Piazza di Sant'Apollinare, northern area of Piazza Navona
; Another (the library) is Via dei Farnesi near the famous Palazzo Farnese. Its stated mission is "to serve the whole Church by means of a broad and thorough work of research and formation in the ecclesiastical sciences, cooperating according to its special function with the evangelizing mission of the Church in the whole world."
Pope John Paul II
granted the title of 'university
' to the Pontifical Atheneum of the Holy Cross in July 1998, making it the sixth pontifical university
in the city of Rome
.
The University is open to lay people, both men and women, priests, seminarians
, and religious brothers and sisters.
Congregation for Catholic Education
, "For the University of the Holy Cross the adjective 'Pontifical' has never been a merely decorative title, but a qualification which commits it profoundly, inviting it to active fidelity to the Roman Pontiff," and, in union with him, "to the Church as a whole."
"St. Josemaría Escrivá," he said, "was able to emphasize the need to unite this moral rectitude and love of truth with respect for the autonomy of the disciplines and, therefore, of the legitimate freedom of teachers and researchers, showing a unitary conception of the world and of man, capable of putting learning always at the service of the person."
, English, Spanish, French, and German) which enables them to fulfill their academic task of teaching an international student body coming from different continents, culture and language groups.
The Pontifical University of the Holy Cross offers university courses in ecclesiastical sciences. It now has four Schools: Theology
, Canon Law
, Philosophy
, and Social Institutional Communication
. It also has a Higher Institute of Religious Sciences which has correspondence learning.
The scientific journals of the university are:
The university is located at Piazza di Sant'Apollinare 49, Rome
. Its library is at Via dei Farnesi 82, near the famous Palazzo Farnese. Pontifical University of the Holy Cross Foundation is in New Rochelle, NY, USA.
The present Chancellor of the Pontifical University is the Prelate of Opus Dei, Bishop Javier Echevarría
.
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
university
Pontifical university
A pontifical university is a Catholic University established by and directly under the authority of the Holy See. It is licensed to grant academic degrees in sacred faculties, the most important of which are Sacred Theology, Canon Law, Sacred Scripture and...
under the Curial
Roman Curia
The Roman Curia is the administrative apparatus of the Holy See and the central governing body of the entire Catholic Church, together with the Pope...
Congregation for Catholic Education
Congregation for Catholic Education
The Congregation for Catholic Education is the Pontifical congregation of the Roman Curia responsible for: seminaries and houses of formation of...
, which it has entrusted to the Prelature of the Holy Cross and Opus Dei
Opus Dei
Opus Dei, formally known as The Prelature of the Holy Cross and Opus Dei , is an organization of the Catholic Church that teaches that everyone is called to holiness and that ordinary life is a path to sanctity. The majority of its membership are lay people, with secular priests under the...
, or more commonly called Opus Dei. It was started in 1984 by Opus Dei
Opus Dei
Opus Dei, formally known as The Prelature of the Holy Cross and Opus Dei , is an organization of the Catholic Church that teaches that everyone is called to holiness and that ordinary life is a path to sanctity. The majority of its membership are lay people, with secular priests under the...
, with the aim of offering the universal church an effective instrument for formation and research.
Located in the heart of Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
, it has two campuses. One is in Piazza di Sant'Apollinare, northern area of Piazza Navona
Piazza Navona
Piazza Navona is a city square in Rome, Italy. It is built on the site of the Stadium of Domitian, built in 1st century AD, and follows the form of the open space of the stadium. The ancient Romans came there to watch the agones , and hence it was known as 'Circus Agonalis'...
; Another (the library) is Via dei Farnesi near the famous Palazzo Farnese. Its stated mission is "to serve the whole Church by means of a broad and thorough work of research and formation in the ecclesiastical sciences, cooperating according to its special function with the evangelizing mission of the Church in the whole world."
Pope John Paul II
Pope John Paul II
Blessed Pope John Paul II , born Karol Józef Wojtyła , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death on 2 April 2005, at of age. His was the second-longest documented pontificate, which lasted ; only Pope Pius IX ...
granted the title of 'university
University
A university is an institution of higher education and research, which grants academic degrees in a variety of subjects. A university is an organisation that provides both undergraduate education and postgraduate education...
' to the Pontifical Atheneum of the Holy Cross in July 1998, making it the sixth pontifical university
Pontifical university
A pontifical university is a Catholic University established by and directly under the authority of the Holy See. It is licensed to grant academic degrees in sacred faculties, the most important of which are Sacred Theology, Canon Law, Sacred Scripture and...
in the city of Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
.
The University is open to lay people, both men and women, priests, seminarians
Seminary
A seminary, theological college, or divinity school is an institution of secondary or post-secondary education for educating students in theology, generally to prepare them for ordination as clergy or for other ministry...
, and religious brothers and sisters.
Background
According to Cardinal Saraiva Martins, secretary of the VaticanHoly See
The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, in which its Bishop is commonly known as the Pope. It is the preeminent episcopal see of the Catholic Church, forming the central government of the Church. As such, diplomatically, and in other spheres the Holy See acts and...
Congregation for Catholic Education
Congregation for Catholic Education
The Congregation for Catholic Education is the Pontifical congregation of the Roman Curia responsible for: seminaries and houses of formation of...
, "For the University of the Holy Cross the adjective 'Pontifical' has never been a merely decorative title, but a qualification which commits it profoundly, inviting it to active fidelity to the Roman Pontiff," and, in union with him, "to the Church as a whole."
"St. Josemaría Escrivá," he said, "was able to emphasize the need to unite this moral rectitude and love of truth with respect for the autonomy of the disciplines and, therefore, of the legitimate freedom of teachers and researchers, showing a unitary conception of the world and of man, capable of putting learning always at the service of the person."
Faculty
Most of the members of the academic staff hold degrees from both secular and ecclesiastical universities. It offers an ongoing formation both to its academic staff to students, providing them with information current issues. The ratio of academic staff to students in one to nine. The members of the faculty know and use at least five major modern languages (ItalianItalian language
Italian is a Romance language spoken mainly in Europe: Italy, Switzerland, San Marino, Vatican City, by minorities in Malta, Monaco, Croatia, Slovenia, France, Libya, Eritrea, and Somalia, and by immigrant communities in the Americas and Australia...
, English, Spanish, French, and German) which enables them to fulfill their academic task of teaching an international student body coming from different continents, culture and language groups.
Courses
The Pontifical University of the Holy Cross offers university courses in ecclesiastical sciences. It now has four Schools: Theology
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
, Canon Law
Canon law
Canon law is the body of laws & regulations made or adopted by ecclesiastical authority, for the government of the Christian organization and its members. It is the internal ecclesiastical law governing the Catholic Church , the Eastern and Oriental Orthodox churches, and the Anglican Communion of...
, Philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
, and Social Institutional Communication
Social communication
The term social communication refers to using the so-called social media. However there is no standardised definition yet recognised. Generally communication requires a social nexus of at least two entities in a technical or just social relation...
. It also has a Higher Institute of Religious Sciences which has correspondence learning.
Research and publications
During the academic year 2005-06, 40 books by faculty members and 78 doctoral theses were published.The scientific journals of the university are:
- <Annales Theologici>: Faculty of TheologyTheologyTheology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
- <Ius Ecclesiae>: Faculty of Canon LawCanon lawCanon law is the body of laws & regulations made or adopted by ecclesiastical authority, for the government of the Christian organization and its members. It is the internal ecclesiastical law governing the Catholic Church , the Eastern and Oriental Orthodox churches, and the Anglican Communion of...
- <Acta Philosophica>: Faculty of PhilosophyPhilosophyPhilosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
Enrollment and other data
For the school year 2006-07, the University has over 1500 students enrolled from 77 countries. The Pontifical University of the Holy Cross is supported financially by the contributions of many benefactors, including non-Christians, from all over the world. Since its beginning in 1984, more than 7,000 students from 102 countries have passed through the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross in its 25 year history.The university is located at Piazza di Sant'Apollinare 49, Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
. Its library is at Via dei Farnesi 82, near the famous Palazzo Farnese. Pontifical University of the Holy Cross Foundation is in New Rochelle, NY, USA.
The present Chancellor of the Pontifical University is the Prelate of Opus Dei, Bishop Javier Echevarría
Javier Echevarria Rodriguez
Most Reverend Bishop Javier Echevarría Rodríguez is a Spanish bishop of the Roman Catholic Church. He is the current head of the Prelature of the Holy Cross and Opus Dei...
.
External links
- Pontifical University of the Holy Cross — official website of the university
- Pontifical University of the Holy Cross Foundation
- Roman Opus Dei Institute Becomes Pontifical University - Catholic News
- Science, Theology and Ontological Quest
- Pontifical Universities
- University of Holy Cross Marks Its 20th Anniversary: Cardinal Saraiva Martins Highlights Its Fidelity to the Pope