Universities should allow young people to compare personal intellectual, social searches with truth of Christ, says Vatican

Vatican City, Dec 5, 2005 / 22:00 pm

The Vatican today, released the contents of a Papal message commending the Italian University of Urbino for its successful integration of theological truths within the context of a legitimate Church-State separation.

The message was sent by Cardinal Secretary of State Angelo Sodano to Archbishop Francesco Marinelli of Urbino-Urbania-Sant'Angelo in Vado, Italy, for the occasion of the university’s fifth centenary.

The school was recently renamed for its own Professor Carlo Bo (1911 - 2001), who served as rector of the school for 54 years. It is currently home to some 20,000 students.

Cardinal Sodano wrote that the Holy Father "hopes that the cultural formation of new generations will always remain the university's primary aim.”

“To this end,” he said, “a useful contribution may be drawn from the 'Italo Mancini' Higher Institute of Religious Sciences which has been active in the university for more than 20 years."

The cardinal continued his message, saying that "Within the context of the legitimate autonomy which must distinguish relations between Church and State, the university upholds Urbino's vibrant tradition of theology teaching…”

This, he said, enables “young people to compare their own existential, intellectual and social search with the supreme synthesis of truth and life revealed in Christ."