2007-2017: Sophia’s tenth anniversary
The University Institute founded by Chiara Lubich inaugurates the academic year with the launching of a new Research Centre
The Sophia University Institute was founded by Chiara Lubich ten years ago; she wanted this institute to focus on ‘the teaching of Wisdom”. Piero Coda, President of Sophia says that this aspiration orientates the institute’s life towards one “where divine wisdom and the human quest for knowledge become one thing”. “Sophia is an innovative idea of university characterized by a strong interdisciplinary and intercultural experience”. During the first ten years of its life, 126 graduates and 15 PhD students “have acquired necessary means to interpret contemporaneity and act as protagonists in a pluralistic, complex world that needs people who can dialogue”, as Coda states.
Cardinal Giuseppe Bertori, the Chancellor of the Institute, Dr.Maria Voce, the Vice-Chancellor, the academic staff and students will be present for the inauguration of the academic year 2017-2018, which will be taking place on October24, 2017 at the Auditorium of the Loppiano International Centre. Mons. Vincenzo Zani, Prof. Stefano Zamagni, Prof. Vincenzo Buonomo, Ambassador Pasquale Ferrara and Dr. Adnane Mokrani are among the special guests.
The inauguration ceremony of the Sophia Global Studies will be on the same day at 9.00am in the Aula Magna of the University Institute. This new research, training and dialogue centre. is meant to train leaders capable of facing global challenges and well-equipped with tools necessary to promote dialogue and peace. Paolo Frizzi, the coordinator of this new initiative claims that ”the complexities of today’s world require integrated and unified perspectives” and that Sophia Global Studies aims at becoming “a trans-disciplinary and cross-cultural point of reference in the field of global studies, particularly through putting into dialogue the resources and expertise that come from the various disciplines».
It was in July 1966, during an audience with Pope Paul VI, when some parish priests, who came into contact with the Focolare spirituality, were encouraged to spread its spirit of unity among their parish communities. The following year, Chiara Lubich invited these parish priests and their parishioners to a meeting at the Mariapoli Centre, at Rocca di Papa, Rome. The experience lived during this meeting filled the many who participated with great enthusiasm. Thus the Parish Movement was founded, and soon it spread to parishes all over the world.
