Pontifical Canadian College marks 125th anniversary
(Vatican Radio) The Pontifical Canadian College in Rome is marking its 125th anniversary.
Founded in 1888, the college was established when Canada was still considered mission
territory by the Church and under the jurisdiction of Propaganda Fidei.
“It
was quite an enterprise for such a small Catholic population to undertake,” said historian
John Zucchi. The foundation of the institution was remarkable, given a Catholic population
of only three million people in Canada at the time, said the author of The Pontifical
Canadian College: An enduring tradition, 125 years of history.
The book,
which tells the history of the college, will be launched on Friday as part of a series
of anniversary events; Canadian-born Cardinal Marc Ouellet, prefect of the Congregation
for Bishops and president of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America, will attend.
The establishment of the Canadian College was the initial idea of British
Cardinal Edward Henry Howard. But it was the Sulpicians, who picked up on the idea
“financed the whole operation… and did all the legwork,” said the McGill University
professor.
Reading through a slew of primary sources, Zucchi found it amusing
to learn how, in the 1950s and 60s, “the college was still tied to Canada for tiny
things, like food,” he said.
He was also intrigued by the fact that French
Cardinal Paul Gouyon had found refuge at the Canadian College in his last year of
studies in Rome, after having to leave the French College. “As he wrote in his memoirs,
‘It was my salvation to have gone there’,” Zucchi said.
The history professor
said he was further surprised to discover the relationship between the college and
the popes, namely Popes Leo XIII, Pius XI and Paul VI; the latter had attended the
college’s 75th-anniversary celebration.
“There’s a slight motif
through the history of the college of this very close, I would say, intimate tie with
the Pope,” he said.
For instance, Pope Leo XIII “loved the idea of national
colleges” and was given the Canadian College as a gift for the 50th anniversary
of his priestly ordination. “He said this was the greatest gift he received for his
jubilee year,” reported Zucchi.
However, the greatest contribution of the college,
Zucchi added, is that it has permitted priests in Canada to have a home away from
home, while studying in Roman universities and experiencing the heart of the Church.
A few cultural events have been organized this spring as part of the celebrations.
The anniversary year will close with a mass in June; Canada’s newest cardinal, Gérald
Cyprien Lacroix, archbishop of Quebec, will preside.
Listen to the full
interview with John Zucchi: Report
and interview by Laura Ieraci