Isabel Capeloa Gil, Rector of UCP, receives Honoris Causa Doctorate from the Institut Catholique de Paris

The Rector of the Universidade Católica Portuguesa, Isabel Capeloa Gil, was awarded the title of Doctor Honoris Causa by the Institut Catholique de Paris (ICP) on November 18. She is the first woman to receive the distinction from this university.

"The restless university. Discourse on today's times" was the title of the speech given at the ceremony, which also included a Laudatio given by Cécile Coulangeon, Director of the Faculty of Letters of the ICP.

Michel Aupetit, Archbishop of Paris and Chancellor of ICP, Emmanuel Petit, Rector of ICP, and Marc-Olivier Laurent, President of the Board of Directors of ICP, took part in the formal session, which took place in the ICP auditorium on the Paris campus.

Isabel Capeloa Gil has been Rector of the UCP since 2016, and President of the International Federation of Catholic Universities since 2018. In 2019 she received the title of Doctor Honoris Causa from Boston College, in the USA. In the 156 years of the university, she was the first non-American speaker at a graduation ceremony (Commencement Speech).

The Institut Catholique de Paris, founded in 1875, is one of the most prestigious French universities. Known as "La Catho", it comprises several faculties (Theology and Religious Sciences, Canon Law, Philosophy, Letters, Social and Economic Sciences, Education and others). Honorary Doctors of the ICP include Amartya Sen, René Girard and Jacques Delors.

The degree of Doctor Honoris Causa is awarded to eminent personalities who have distinguished themselves in academic, scientific, professional, cultural, artistic, civic or political activity, or who have rendered high services to the University, the country or to humanity.

Watch the ceremony here.

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