Dear colleagues and students,
Next week, Pope Francis will make a historic visit to Belgium on the occasion of the celebrations marking the founding of our university. This visit certainly generates enthusiasm but also raises concerns and questions about how it will be “received” by those who feel distant from the Catholic Church. Even within the Church, there are those who would like to have an open and constructive dialogue with the Pope about the challenges facing the Church today in its engagement with contemporary society and culture, particularly in Europe. However, we have the impression that there has been little focus on what this visit means for us, beyond the university’s celebrations.
From these observations, we came up with the idea to organize a meeting for the students and researchers of our faculty around the following question: What thoughts and considerations does the Pope’s upcoming visit to Belgium, and particularly to our university, provoke in me? What are my expectations?
No preparation required, just bring your lunch and critical-constructive mindset!
We invite you to join us on Tuesday, 24 September, from 13:00 to 14:30 in the Romero Room. The invitation is open to PhD students, postdocs, and any other students who wish to attend.
Feel welcome! We hope to see you there for a rich and meaningful dialogue.
Best regards,
Jens Van Rompaey and Valerio Aversano