Pope Leo XIV on the 60th Anniversary of Bolivian Catholic University “San Pablo”: Truth Lives in Jesus Christ
Pope Leo XIV on the 60th Anniversary of Bolivian Catholic University “San Pablo”: Truth Lives in Jesus Christ
In a heartfelt message commemorating the 60th anniversary of the Bolivian Catholic University “San Pablo,” Pope Leo XIV emphasized that truth finds its ultimate identity in the person of Jesus Christ. He reaffirmed that the university’s guiding principle, Veritas in Caritate, remains a vital criterion for both academic and pastoral discernment in today’s fragmented world.
Reflecting on six decades of service, the Holy Father reminded the academic community that a university is not merely a center for technical training or utilitarian knowledge. At its core, it is an “academic community which, in a rigorous and critical way, contributes to the protection and development of human dignity and cultural heritage.” Education, he stressed, must aim at the integral formation of the human person—cultivating intellect, morality, freedom, and commitment to the common good.
“For the Christian tradition,” Pope Leo explained, “truth is not merely an intellectual ideal or an abstract concept. It finds its identity in the person of Jesus Christ Himself, who reveals man to himself and shows him his supreme vocation.” In this light, truth combined with charity becomes a force that builds, heals, and guides humanity toward fulfillment. Knowledge, when rooted in love and service, protects against domination, exclusion, or mere utility, directing it instead to justice and human dignity—especially for the vulnerable.
The Pope concluded by reminding the university community that research, teaching, and professional formation are not self-referential goals but instruments for creating a more humane, just, and open society. He entrusted all academic, formative, and communal endeavors to the maternal intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Seat of Wisdom, urging the institution to continue letting Veritas in Caritate guide its mission.
