On Friday, October 16, 2020 at the 42nd anniversary of the election of Cardinal Karol Wojtyła to the Peter’s Capital the inauguration of the academic year 2020/2021 took place at the Catholic University of Lublin (KUL). Archbishop Stanisław Budzik, Metropolitan of Lublin and Grand Chancellor of KUL, Bishop of Sandomierz Krzysztof Nitkiewicz, Lublin bishops, rectors of Lublin universities, former rectors of KUL, vice-rectors, deans, professors, representatives of local authorities and representatives of students, among them stipend recipients of the John Paul II Foundation participated in that ceremony. The stipend recipients of the John Paul II Foundation were actively involved in the inauguration ceremony in the church and in the liturgy. The ceremony was also attended by Father Jan Strzałka, director of the Foundation House. Participants of the 6th Christian Culture Congress, including the Cardinal Kurt Koch and Cardinal Gerhard Ludwig Müller, were the honorary guests of the ceremony.
The commemorative academy began with a speech delivered by the Rector of the KUL, Fr. Prof. Dr. Mirosław Kalinowski, who welcomed the participants of the meeting. In his speech, among other things, he highlighted the need to care for the integral shape of education, which should emphasize the full development of man.
During the ceremony Cardinal Koch received an honorary doctorate from the Catholic University of Lublin. The Cardinal is a prominent Swiss theologian and ecumenist, president of the Pontifical Council for the Advancement of Christian Unity. He was also a close associate of St. John Paul II and Benedict XVI. The laudation was delivered by Bishop Krzysztof Nitkiewicz. Then, the new doctor honoris causa gave the inaugural lecture. This part of the meeting ended with the joint singing “Gaudeamus Igitur”.
At 12.30 pm, a solemn Mass for the university community began in the KUL’s academic church. The Eucharist was celebrated by Cardinal. Koch and the homily in Polish was delivered by Cardinal Müller.
We entrust the entire community of the Catholic University of Lublin and our Foundation to the Lord God, asking for the St. John Paul II intercession.
Fr. Robert Ptak
