On the Church's Institutions of Higher Learning
FREE Catholic Classes
Interview With Rector of Regina Apostolorum
ROME, APRIL 4, 2007 (Zenit) - The role of Church-related institutions of higher learning is to provide quality formation so the world will come to know Jesus Christ, says the new rector of the Regina Apostolorum university.
Legionary of Christ Father Pedro BarrajĂłn was recently chosen as the rector, succeeding Father Paolo Scarafoni, a member of the same congregation.
Pontifical universities and athenaeums are Catholic higher-education, degree-granting institutions overseen by the Vatican. An athenaeum has two faculties, normally philosophy and theology, while a university has at least three.
Q: What is the greatest service a Roman athenaeum offers the Church?
Father BarrajĂłn: The services a Roman athenaeum offers the Church are varied. I would like to enumerate only a few.
In the first place, every university or athenaeum has the mission to orient the teaching staff and student community in the sincere search of truth and this is done by each discipline according to its own methodology, knowing that there isn't a double or triple truth but only one, and that truth isn't against truth.
In regard to the specific study of theology, which animates the heart of every original contribution of the pontifical universities to the Church, I like to recall the phrase of St. Bonaventure who said that theology must begin with faith, continue with the heart and end in contemplation.
Theology is not fruitful if it does not begin with the faith of the Church, gathered in sacred Scripture and the living Tradition as interpreted authentically by the magisterium.
Therefore, I think that an athenaeum must be a place of sincere, common and systematic search of truth in the different fields of learning. Christianity, as Benedict XVI has highlighted in many of his interventions, does not fear the "logos," given that it is the "Logos" himself who is the center of its faith.
There can be no schizophrenia between faith and reason. On the contrary, they are two wings to rise to the contemplation of truth.
In the second place, an athenaeum is a place of creation of Christian culture. Pope Benedict XVI himself has spoken in his books of the role that creative minorities will have in the Church of the future. Those minorities must have a superior intellectual formation and it is the universities and athenaeums that offer the possibility.
In the third place, the Roman athenaeums have the particular vocation to form priests.
Thanks be to God, there is in them a growing number of lay people, but the great majority continue to be priests who will eventually return to their respective dioceses in which they will contribute with their specific competency to the growth and strengthening of the local Church.
It is a great joy for me to know that every year more than 100 priests are ordained, from some 20 or 30 various countries, who have been formed in our athenaeum.
Q: Do you have a concrete project or specific priority in mind?
Father BarrajĂłn: Historically, our athenaeum arose after a conversation of Pope John Paul II with the founder of the Legion of Christ, Father Marcial Maciel, on the need to forge apostles, priests and laity, of the new evangelization who would be at the unconditional service of the Church.
This apostolic initiative arose with this end in mind and it was entrusted to the special protection of Mary, Queen of the Apostles. I believe that my mission is to be faithful to this foundational origin to help forge these apostles of the new evangelization who can be present in the great areopagi from where Christ must be preached today. And to do so in the most absolute fidelity to the magisterium of the Church and of the Pope.
The rectors who preceded me, Father Ălvaro Corcuera, at present director general of the congregation, and Father Paolo Scarafoni, who continues to function as rector of the European University of Rome, have been faithful to these foundational origins and have given the athenaeum great stimulation in all fields.
My present task, I believe, is to continue to work in that same direction, collaborating intensely with the Holy Father and the Holy See, with the other Roman pontifical universities and athenaeums in the delicate task of evangelization of the culture and in the high-level formation of priests and Catholic laity who are to take to the world the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Q: You are also involved in subjects related to the relationship between science and faith. Of what importance is this kind of subject from the theological point of view?
Father BarrajĂłn: I am convinced that faith does not have to be afraid of science; rather a fruitful dialogue between them is very valuable, both for science as well as theology.
However, the mutual dialogue needs mediation -- philosophy, a philosophy of being, open to truth. In this way, the athenaeum has been collaborating actively in the STOQ -- Science and Theology and the Ontological Quest -- project in which several Roman ecclesiastical universities are involved and the Pontifical Council for Culture.
Within the master's, I offer a course on "Christian Anthropology in the Face of Science" in which, after a few initial theoretical bases, I pause to consider some present-day subjects, such as the embryo's soul, death and immortality, mind-brain relationship, the process of animation in evolution, etc.
Contact
Catholic Online
https://www.catholic.org
CA, US
Catholic Online - Publisher, 661 869-1000
info@yourcatholicvoice.org
Keywords
Education, Jesus, Barrajon, Universities
More Catholic PRWire
Showing 1 - 50 of 4,716
A Recession Antidote
Randy Hain
Monaco & The Vatican: Monaco's Grace Kelly Exhibit to Rome--A Review of Monegasque-Holy See Diplomatic History
Dna. Maria St. Catherine Sharpe, t.o.s.m., T.O.SS.T.
The Why of Jesus' Death: A Pauline Perspective
Jerom Paul
A Royal Betrayal: Catholic Monaco Liberalizes Abortion
Dna. Maria St.Catherine De Grace Sharpe, t.o.s.m., T.O.SS.T.
Embrace every moment as sacred time
Mary Regina Morrell
My Dad
JoMarie Grinkiewicz
Letting go is simple wisdom with divine potential
Mary Regina Morrell
Father Lombardi's Address on Catholic Media
Catholic Online
Pope's Words to Pontifical Latin American College
Catholic Online
Prelate: Genetics Needs a Conscience
Catholic Online
State Aid for Catholic Schools: Help or Hindrance?
Catholic Online
Scorsese Planning Movie on Japanese Martyrs
Catholic Online
2 Nuns Kidnapped in Kenya Set Free
Catholic Online
Holy See-Israel Negotiation Moves Forward
Catholic Online
Franchising to Evangelize
Catholic Online
Catholics Decry Anti-Christianity in Israel
Catholic Online
Pope and Gordon Brown Meet About Development Aid
Catholic Online
Pontiff Backs Latin America's Continental Mission
Catholic Online
Cardinal Warns Against Anti-Catholic Education
Catholic Online
Full Circle
Robert Gieb
Three words to a deeper faith
Paul Sposite
Relections for Lent 2009
chris anthony
Wisdom lies beyond the surface of life
Mary Regina Morrell
World Food Program Director on Lent
Catholic Online
Moral Clarity
DAN SHEA
Pope's Lenten Message for 2009
Catholic Online
A Prayer for Monaco: Remembering the Faith Legacy of Prince Rainier III & Princess Grace and Contemplating the Moral Challenges of Prince Albert II
Dna. Maria St. Catherine Sharpe
Keeping a Lid on Permissiveness
Sally Connolly
Glimpse of Me
Sarah Reinhard
The 3 stages of life
Michele Szekely
Sex and the Married Woman
Cheryl Dickow
A Catholic Woman Returns to the Church
Cheryl Dickow
Modernity & Morality
Dan Shea
Just a Minute
Sarah Reinhard
Catholic identity ... triumphant reemergence!
Hugh McNichol
Edging God Out
Paul Sposite
Burying a St. Joseph Statue
Cheryl Dickow
George Bush Speaks on Papal Visit
Catholic Online
Sometimes moving forward means moving the canoe
Mary Regina Morrell
Action Changes Things: Teaching our Kids about Community Service
Lisa Hendey
Easter... A Way of Life
Paul Spoisite
Papal initiative...peace and harmony!
Hugh McNichol
Proclaim the mysteries of the Resurrection!
Hugh McNichol
Jerusalem Patriarch's Easter Message
Catholic Online
Good Friday Sermon of Father Cantalamessa
Catholic Online
Papal Address at the End of the Way of the Cross
Catholic Online
Cardinal Zen's Meditations for Via Crucis
Catholic Online
Interview With Vatican Aide on Jewish-Catholic Relations
Catholic Online
Pope Benedict XVI On the Easter Triduum
Catholic Online
Holy Saturday...anticipation!
Hugh McNichol
Join the Movement
When you sign up below, you don't just join an email list - you're joining an entire movement for Free world class Catholic education.
-
- Easter / Lent
- Ascension Day
- 7 Morning Prayers
- Mysteries of the Rosary
- Litany of the Bl. Virgin Mary
- Popular Saints
- Popular Prayers
- Female Saints
- Saint Feast Days by Month
- Stations of the Cross
- St. Francis of Assisi
- St. Michael the Archangel
- The Apostles' Creed
- Unfailing Prayer to St. Anthony
- Pray the Rosary

Nearly Half of American Children Now Struggle with Chronic Health Issues — Anxiety and Depression Lead the Surge

Vatican Approves Devotion to Marian Apparitions in Slovakia—Without Declaring Them Supernatural

Pope Leo XIV: AI Must Uphold Human Dignity and Build a More Fraternal World
Daily Catholic
Daily Readings for Friday, July 11, 2025
St. Benedict of Nursia: Saint of the Day for Friday, July 11, 2025
Infant Jesus of Prague Novena Prayer: Prayer of the Day for Friday, July 11, 2025
Daily Readings for Thursday, July 10, 2025
Bl. Emmanuel Ruiz: Saint of the Day for Thursday, July 10, 2025
- Prayer to Our Lady of the Sacred Heart: Prayer of the Day for Thursday, July 10, 2025
Copyright 2025 Catholic Online. All materials contained on this site, whether written, audible or visual are the exclusive property of Catholic Online and are protected under U.S. and International copyright laws, © Copyright 2025 Catholic Online. Any unauthorized use, without prior written consent of Catholic Online is strictly forbidden and prohibited.
Catholic Online is a Project of Your Catholic Voice Foundation, a Not-for-Profit Corporation. Your Catholic Voice Foundation has been granted a recognition of tax exemption under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Federal Tax Identification Number: 81-0596847. Your gift is tax-deductible as allowed by law.