August 13.08.11) “Modern man listens gladly to witnesses rather than teachers, or
to teachers precisely because they are witnesses” said 60 year old Archbishop Salvatore
Rino Fisichella, first President of the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of the
New Evangelisation, Saturday, opening the sessions of the World Congress of Catholic
Universities at Avila, Italy. He was quoting from the 1975 Apostolic Letter of Pope
Paul VI, Evangelii Nuntiandi, on proclaiming the Gospel. The congress concludes
Sunday the 14th. Beginning with reflections of John Henry Newman in his
1852 Essay on The Idea of a University, the Archbishop spoke of the hopes created
by say discoveries of cures for so many maladies, but of disturbing perplexity in
the face of the growing disregard for the sacredness of life. The university is called
upon to lead its students along the paths that lead to becoming integral men and
women, who can enter the world of professions aware of their identity and capable
of fulfilling their life as a vocation