The fourth issue of the biannual magazine Alma Mater (AM) was published in January 2024 and, according to Paulo Campos Pinto, its director, it “highlights one of the most significant events in the institutional life of the Universidade Católica Portuguesa (UCP): the visit of Pope Francis to the Lisbon campus on the occasion of World Youth Day”.
The publication also brings together articles and interviews with members of the academic community, such as alumni, teachers, students, researchers and partners, as well as articles about the university's projects and partnerships.
Starting with interviews, this edition includes the big interview with Cardinal José Tolentino de Mendonça (former vice-rector of the UCP), as well as interviews with Nuno Moreira da Cruz, Henrique Sousa Antunes, Diana Soares, Paula Castro, Francisco Mendes-Palma and Isabel Braga da Cruz (Pro-Rector of the UCP). It also includes the profiles of two members of the UCP board of trustees: Ana Pinho and Henrique Leitão.
In the Alumni field, this issue comprises interviews with Cláudia Azevedo and João Vieira de Almeida and highlights the UCP alumni meeting in Macau, on October 9, 2023.
As stated by the director of AM, the main highlight of this issue is the visit of Pope Francis to UCP, during which he blessed the foundation stone of Campus Veritati and urged young people not to stop dreaming. The magazine also highlights the two gifts offered by UCP to the Pope in gratitude for his visit, the “Economy of Francis” lecture series and the UCP Pilgrim Reception Centre.
Another topic that stands out is the visit of Jill Biden, First Lady of the United States of America, to Católica and the inauguration of the exhibition “The Democracy Collection”, at the Amália de Mello Foundation Gallery, which she made during her visit.
Regarding UCP events, partnerships and programs, this issue highlights the following: the event Breakfast@Católica – Meet the Global Thought Leaders, which took place on April 3, 2023; the celebrations of the 50th anniversary of FCH; the new partnership between Católica Medical School and Glintt; the UCP “Liberdade dos Talentos” program; the distinction of the CLSBE SDG observatory by the UN; the Rector being awarded with honorary doctorate by the Australian Catholic University.
Finally, in the Católica Fellows section, it is possible to find an interview with Vítor Ribeirinho, CEO of KPMG Portugal, a donor company of the new Campus Veritati, and an article about the new UCP Protocol with Cisco, a company that belongs to the group of founding donors of this same campus.
You can read Alma Mater 4, in digital format, here.
