Easter message from the President | 2023

Easter is a time of transformation and a reaffirmation of the new time that the message of Christ brings to all of us, believers and non-believers. A new time which manifests itself in the fundamental values of our societies and of our university: the search for truth, goodness, justice, beauty and dignity.

Thus, the mission of the university derives from the testimony of this new time and is manifested through the curiosity of research, the pleasure of sharing and the collaboration that takes place in every class and seminar, in the laboratories and libraries. The new time in which we live is also fulfilled in the willingness to build a university which goes forth, acting outside its campuses in every geography, location and context in which it can contribute to the common good.

This path also requires a willingness to embrace change and transformation, which, after all, are intrinsic to the nature of a university, which must constantly challenge itself to do better, to go further, both in terms of knowledge and in terms of the people and communities it touches and hosts.

We are also living a critical moment of tension, social conflict and war, and at this time it is important to remember that the university understands itself as an agent of change for a better society. That its value proposal is distinguished by an approach to social, scientific and cultural reality anchored in the values inherited from the Christian humanist intellectual tradition. And that precisely because of this, its action is guided by the ethical purpose of "going forth and doing good", recognising its responsibility to contribute to solving the great societal problems of a humanity confronted with hunger, exclusion, war and to raise the awareness of its community of students to this purpose, as is the case with the ODS chairs, made available to all 1st cycle courses.

May this Easter, reassert the permanent novelty of the Christian message and may it help the entire community of UCP in a path of personal and also institutional renewal.

To all of you and your families, may you have a Holy Easter.

Isabel Capeloa Gil

President

Related News

The President
The President of Universidade Católica represents Transform4Europe at a European Commission meeting in Brussels
Isabel Capeloa Gil, President of the Universidade Católica Portuguesa, took part on 10 June in a meeting organised by the European Commission, which brought together Rectors and Presidents of European University Alliances and of alliances awarded the Seal of Excellence.

Thu, 11/06/2026

Instituto de Estudos Políticos The President
The Future of Europe and Global Alliances under discussion at the 34th Estoril Political Forum
The Estoril Political Forum, an event organised for more than three decades by the Institute for Political Studies of the Universidade Católica Portuguesa (IEP-UCP), takes place between 1 and 3 June under the theme “Independence in an interdependent world”. Find out more here.

Wed, 03/06/2026

Católica The President
President of the Universidade Católica Portuguesa participates in the FUCE General Assembly in Zagreb
Isabel Capeloa Gil participated in the General Assembly of the Federation of Catholic Universities of Europe (FUCE), which took place in Zagreb between 20 and 22 May. The meeting was also attended by the Cardinal Prefect of the Dicastery for Culture and Education and the Ambassador of Portugal to Croatia.

Mon, 25/05/2026