To carry out its mission to the Church and to society, the
As expressed by John Paul II in the Apostolic Constitution Ex Corde Ecclesiae, the Catholic University, as an extension of its service to the Church, and always within its proper competence, it is called on to become an ever more effective instrument of cultural progress for individuals as well as for society. Included among its research activities, therefore, will be a study of serious contemporary problems in areas such as the dignity of human life, the promotion of justice for all, the quality of personal and family life, the protection of nature, the search for peace and political stability, a more just sharing in the world's resources, and a new economic and political order that will better serve the human community at a national and international level. University research will seek to discover the roots and causes of the serious problems of our time, paying special attention to their ethical and religious dimensions."1.
The research consists in deeply examining reality, with the methods that are proper of each discipline, thus contributing to the enrichment of human knowledge2. In a
In his speech to the University Professors in the Jubilee of the Y-2000, Pope John Paul II reminded us that "(…) culture has to meet the standard of the human being, overcoming the temptations of a pragmatic knowledge or of one which is disseminated over infinite erudition expressions, and therefore incapable of giving meaning to life. For this reason, you have reaffirmed that there is no contradiction, but, rather, a logical link between freedom of research and recognition of truth, which is precisely the end of research, despite the limits and the fatigue of human thought. This aspect must be stressed, not to fall into the relative meaning and sense of things impacting on a significant part of present culture"5.
The Church warns us that the University "(…) no longer has the monopoly of research in fields where specialized institutes and research centers outstand, either of private or public nature. Anyway, they also participate in a specific cultural climate, the "university culture", which is driving force of a characteristic "forma mentis”: Importance given to the argumentative force of reasoning, development of critical judgment, high-level specific information and weakness in synthesis, even within specific perspectives"6.
In the current scenario, the universities need an adequate body of researchers with the highest academic degrees, fully qualified to meet the new demands of the research systems, and with a Christian vision providing a secure starting point for their search for truth.
The University can not accomplish this alone, but often needs to associate with non-university companies in order to ensure the level of investment in infrastructure, libraries and labs. This need should not undermine the freedom of academic communities to continue with fidelity their vocation to investigate the reality with the ultimate meaning for everything.
The research is the quest for truth and education is the transmission of said truth. It is necessary for both functions to be carried out so as to facilitate the articulation of the different areas of knowledge, showing that they are inserted in the broadest context of culture
1. Ex Corde Ecclesiae (ECE), 32.
2. ECE, 15.
3. ECE, 15.
4. ECE, 20.
5. Speech by John Paul II to the University Professors, September 9, 2000.
6. Presence of the Church in the University and Cultural University, No 2.