Two great events in the county town
The Prefect of the Dicastery for Culture and Education of the Vatican, the Portuguese Cardinal José Tolentino de Mendonça, was in Barcelona this week to attend two relevant events: the presentation of the 2024 agenda of Catalonia Sacra (on Wednesday 28 ) and recognition to Dr. Armand Puig (Thursday 29), coinciding with the celebration of Saint Pacià and the Faculty Day.
During his stay in Barcelona, we had the opportunity to speak with Cardinal Tolentino about various topics of interest and, of course, about the Sagrada Família. We will soon publish the entire interview in our magazine, but for now we will give you some of the statements that the prefect made to us.
The Holy Family, a school of spiritual life
“Entering a place like the Basilica of the Sagrada Familia is to feel that there is a Mystery. This turns the religious heritage, in general, and the Sagrada Família, in particular, into a training school for spiritual life in our time”, says Cardinal José Tolentino, impressed by the beauty of the temple.
Cardinal Tolentino explains that the spiritual experience that is lived is “first of all, the emotion, which is in our heart. The Sagrada Família leads us to surprise, and surprise is a very important pilgrimage route”.
The Sagrada Família project has been closely followed by the Vatican for years. Thus, the prefect tells us that “it is one of the most important cultural projects of the Catholic Church in the world. For this reason, the Department for Culture and Education also pays a lot of attention to it and follows it up, understanding its iconic importance for all of Catholicism.”
A tribute to Dr. Armand Puig
In the interview granted to us by our weekly, Cardinal Tolentino dedicates some very emotional words to Dr. Armand Puig, rector of the Ateneo Universitari Sant Pacià since its foundation in 2015 and until his appointment as president of the Agency of the Holy See for the Evaluation and Promotion of the Quality of Ecclesiastical Universities and Faculties .
In addition to highlighting his human value, his intellectual and biblical training, Cardinal Tolentino confesses that one of the things that surprises him most about him is his love for the earth.
The role of the school in the integration of newcomers
In an extensive interview, the prefect of the Department for Culture and Education talks about the role of the school in welcoming and integrating newcomers. In this sense, the role of Catalan Catholic schools stands out.
In a cordial and calm manner, we talked with Cardinal José Tolentino de Mendonça about the Bible, new technologies, the Common House or war situations, among other topics, and which you will soon find in our magazine.