New Director of the Faculty of Theology takes office
On September 16, the inauguration ceremony of the new Director of the Faculty of Theology at the Universidade Católica Portuguesa, Father Luís Miguel Figueiredo Rodrigues, took place.
During the session, the President of the Universidade Católica Portuguesa, Isabel Capeloa Gil, emphasized the significance of the moment: “Today is a happy day, a regular event in the life of an institution. It always represents an act of trust, of generosity by those who accept this position, and it is a moment of collegiality and of affirmation of the mission of our institution.”
The President also highlighted the central role of the Faculty of Theology within the University: “The Faculty of Theology is the heart of the Universidade Católica Portuguesa. In its work, not only through presbyteral formation, but also by illuminating the true mission of a Catholic University. The Faculty of Theology is not limited to the boundaries of its disciplinary or scientific area. It must be present across all 19 faculties of this University.”
In his inauguration speech, Father Luís Miguel Figueiredo Rodrigues stated: “Assuming the leadership of the Faculty of Theology arises from gratitude. It is not merely about accepting a role, but about recognizing that we are participating in a history longer than our own—a heritage woven with intelligence, dedication, and passion.”
The new Director of the Faculty of Theology presented his vision for the mandate, emphasizing service to the Church, academia, and society. He stressed: “This Faculty does not exist to sustain itself; its reason for being is to serve the ecclesial community, academia, and society.”
He further explained the Faculty’s mission in relation to the Church: “To the Church, we offer a believing thought, faithful to tradition and attentive to the discernment of the signs of the times, aimed at rigorous and continuous theological formation, increasing the theological literacy of the People of God and promoting lifelong learning.”
Regarding the academic context, he highlighted the importance of interdisciplinary dialogue: “an area of knowledge that seeks to engage increasingly with the sciences, the arts, and the humanities.”
Concerning society, he reinforced the Faculty’s contribution to contemporary debates: “To society, we offer an ethical and spiritual word, thoughtfully developed and expressed from the grammar of transcendence, which illuminates contemporary debates, opens horizons of meaning, and promotes the common good.”
He also emphasized: “The Faculty of Theology must be a space where one learns to wait and to build, a place of attentive listening to new generations, a meeting place between cultures and religions, and a space open to society and its peripheries. Therefore, the challenge assumed today is this: to care for the heritage received, honor the past, dare to project the future, and think about faith in an open and fruitful interdisciplinary horizon, forming not only theology specialists but men and women capable of touching hearts and building bridges. Let its existence become an epiphany of the Gospel, where the light of the Kingdom is manifested in the concrete realities of everyday life.”
Closing the ceremony, the Patriarch of Lisbon and Grand Chancellor of the Universidade Católica Portuguesa, D. Rui Valério, stated: “The Faculty of Theology faces the challenge of maintaining and preserving theology on the path and road of science, according to the epistemological criteria of the Church. Theology is called to serve humanity, to serve God Himself, and the very revelation it seeks to articulate.”
At the same ceremony, the members of the Faculty’s Board of Directors were also inaugurated: Abel Canavarro and Rita Mendonça Leite (vice-directors), Adélio Abreu, Alex Villas Boas, Alfredo Teixeira, and João Alberto Sousa Correia (coordinators).