Meeting with the Academic Senate in the Archbishop's Palace in Krakow (22 June 1983)

On Wednesday, 22 June 1983, the Holy Father met with the Academic Senate in Krakow, to whom he said, “All these ecclesiastical institutions are obviously included in the order of salvation, in the salvific order, which has its origins in Christ and in the Holy Spirit.”

I am very grateful for the invitation and for this meeting. I think that it could not have been missing on the day that began with the meeting with the Jagiellonian University. In this meeting with the University, the Faculty of Theology was continuously present, because it was a question of the dimension of six centuries. At the same time, it was formally absent. Therefore, this afternoon meeting is indispensable to confirm the presence, yes, to confirm the new value of the presence of the ancient theological athenaeum of Krakow in the university environment of Krakow, in the environment whose name derives from the Jagiellonian “Alma Mater”.

I personally thank the Rector and all those present for this meeting. At the same time, on this solemn day for Poland, for Krakow, I desire that the grace of the Jubilee we are experiencing may pass to the Pontifical Theological Academy, your university: the grace of the Jubilee, experienced by the universal Church, and the grace of the Jubilee still experienced by the Church in Poland, the Jubilee of Jasna Gora. This grace, that is, the saving action of God, has its own particular dimension if it concerns teaching, if it concerns science, the university, if it concerns professors and students.

All these ecclesiastical institutions are obviously included in the order of salvation, in the salvific order, which has its origins in Christ and in the Holy Spirit. Therefore I hope that you will be participants in the grace of the Jubilee, because from this comes the fruitfulness of the work of the university, of the theological academy, of the theological university. The fruitfulness of this university can only come from the theological sources, or, in other words, theological sources in which one must seek the origins of this fruitfulness and the fruits of all its work. This is what I wish for you, dear brothers and sisters, I wish it for you at this meeting today, which has coincided because this day is as full as it is solemn.

On this occasion I would like to greet all the old friends, because I myself was part of this university, I have been linked to it for many years, so I find myself in a circle of friends; and at the same time greet the new collaborators who have joined. They enter the group of old friends. I want to offer you the blessing to express through this act all that I wish. Before the blessing let's say a short prayer.

O Eternal God Almighty, Source of all wisdom and knowledge, we beseech you, bless the Theological Academy of Krakow, its professors, workers and students. May this university, supported by the powerful intercession of the Foundress of the Theological Faculty, Blessed Queen Hedwig and its professor Jan of Kenty, favor the universal Church and our Homeland, the culture of mind and heart, guiding Polish generations through the centuries in truth and love towards the fullness of life and glory in our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. Seat of Wisdom, pray for us.

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