VATICAN - October 7 marks the inauguration of the 2008-2009 Academic Year at the Pontifical University Urbaniana; opening address on “Evangelization or Testimony? The case of Paul in the Book of Acts.”

Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) – Cardinal Ivan Dias, Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples and Grand Chancellor of the Pontifical University Urbaniana, will preside the Opening Mass “De Spiritu Sancto” to be held in the University Chapel on October 7, at 4pm, in honor of the inauguration of the 2008-2009 Academic Year. At 5:30, in the Aula Magna of the University, after the words of greeting from Cardinal Dias and the “Pro-Rector” Fr. Luigi Sabbarese, Father Jean-Noel Aletti, SJ, Dean of the School of Biblical Studies at the Pontifical Biblical Institute, will give an address on “Evangelization or Testimony? The case of Paul in the Book of Acts.” Lastly, there is a students’ awards ceremony scheduled to take place.
The Pontifical Urbaniana University was endowed with the title “Pontifical” by Blessed Pope John XXIII, on 1st October 1962, and dates back to 1st August 1627, when Pope Urban Urban VIII decided to establish the Urban College with the Bull Immortalis Dei Filius. From its beginnings, is has always been an academic institution with a missionary character, serving the Church through the formation of missionaries and experts in the area of Missiology and other disciplines always needed in the Church’s evangelizing activity. Since 1966, the Urbaniana has held various affiliations, on an international level, with Seminaries and Institutes of Philosophy, Theology, Missiology, and Canon Law. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 24/9/2008)