The pontiff highlighted the university as an educational community that aims for inclusivity – welcoming students from diverse backgrounds, languages, and beliefs.
The pontiff highlighted the university as an educational community that aims for inclusivity – welcoming students from diverse backgrounds, languages, and beliefs.
Pope Francis has announced the establishment of the University of Meaning, an independent education institution situated within the Vatican. The university is under the oversight of Scholas Occurrentes, an international entity with a commitment to inclusivity.
The University of Meaning, as emphasized by Pope Francis, is dedicated to creating an environment that welcomes students from diverse backgrounds, languages and belief systems. Its fundamental goal is to provide education that encompasses the essence of life itself, ensuring that no one is excluded from its reach.
Scholas Occurrentes’ educational movement
The unveiling of the University of Meaning comes in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, a period of cultural decline, according to the pontiff. “To educate is to seek the meaning of things,” the pope said.
The university’s mission and manifesto were developed in collaboration with intellectuals from around the world. These scholars include Mpho Tshivhase from Pretoria University, Stefania Travagnin from London University, Souleymane Bachir Diagne from Columbia University, and Diane Moore from Harvard University.
The group envisioned the University of Meaning as a global institution of higher learning that places education at the heart of an individual’s identity and celebrates the richness of diversity within the community.
Pope Francis initiated Scholas Occurrentes in 2013 with the aim of assisting young people worldwide in discovering purpose and meaning in their lives through a multicultural educational movement. Since 2015, Scholas has collaborated with a network of universities to develop educational content, conduct research, and offer teacher training.
