Universidade Católica participates in international conference on Christianity in Europe
Universidade Católica Portuguesa (UCP) actively participated in the international conference "Christianity in Europe. Questions on Unity", held from November 4 to 7, 2024, at the University of Silesia in Katowice, Poland. This event, which brought together academics and religious leaders from all over Europe to discuss Christian unity in the contemporary European context, was supported by Transform4Europe (T4EU), promoting co-operation and the exchange of ideas between various European universities.
The university was represented by the professors and researchers from the Faculty of Theology's Centre for Research in Theology and Studies of Religion (CITER), Bishop Alexandre Palma and Alex Villas Boas, both invited as keynote speakers. Their speeches addressed crucial issues about the role of Christianity in promoting unity and reconciliation in Europe today.
Bishop Alexandre Palma presented a lecture entitled ‘Europe, Christianity and the Church: roots and fruits’, exploring the historical roots and contemporary fruits of Christianity on the European continent and the dense historical significance of an identity that is always open.
Alex Villas Boas discussed ‘Theology between genealogies of power and genealogies of political spiritualities: an archaeological task to think about unity in plurality in the 21st century’, analysing the relationship between theology, the political use of religion and the role of spirituality in promoting an ethical interface in culture and society in the search for unity in diversity in the 21st century.
Católica's participation in this conference, supported by T4EU, reinforces its commitment to promoting dialogue, critical thinking, religious tolerance and a democratic spirit, all of which intersect with the current challenges facing Christianity in Europe. It also highlights the significant contribution of Portuguese academics to the international theological scene.
Alongside the conference, Bishop Alexandre Palma and Alex Villas Boas met with various representatives of other Theology Faculties from the Transform4Europe Alliance.
The meeting, which discussed the prospects for cooperation between the various institutions, included representatives from the University of Saarland (Germany), Vytautas Magnus University (Lithuania), the University of Silesia (Poland) and Universidade Católica Portuguesa (Portugal).