José María La Porte: "Openness of thought is an attraction of Catholic universities".

On the occasion of the International Congress Purpose of the University on the purpose of the university in the Catholic sphere, to be held October 29-31, 2025, Omnes has interviewed one of the promoters of the event, Professor José María La Porte (professor at the Faculty of Communication of the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross), who is part of the international group of researchers University and Catholic Identity. 

This team is part of the Research Laboratory of the University of the Holy Cross and aims to create an international forum of experts and an interdisciplinary platform that delves into key issues related to the culture and mission of Catholic universities.

The interview is also published on the occasion of the launching of the book Universities, Purpose and Catholic Identity. Examining Governance, Communication, and Core Curriculumpublished by Routledge. This work addresses the contemporary challenges and aspirations of Catholic universities through a historical, philosophical and practical lens.

This conversation addresses the reasons that inspired the organization of this first congress, the role of Catholic universities in a polarized world, their model of governance, and the challenges they face in terms of teaching, research and social outreach. An in-depth look that explores how these institutions can offer a truly meaningful educational proposal, open to diversity, committed to the person in all its dimensions and attentive to the needs of today's society.

Why have you organized a conference on the purpose of the university in the Catholic sphere?

-This congress is part of a broader project. It is promoted by a research group on the Christian identity of the university: what it consists of, how it is manifested, how it is cultivated or diffused. 

The group is made up of professors from nine universities in different countries, who intend to conduct research on these topics over the next few years. This congress is the first one promoted by the group. The purpose of the university seemed to us to be a good theme to start with, as it is something essential, since it inspires all activities and motivates people.

How is the "governance" of a Catholic university defined, and how does it differ from that of a secular university?

-Governance is a fundamental element in a university: it determines the direction, establishes the strategy, distributes resources. In that sense, all universities are similar: they must have clear objectives, they must aspire to quality, they need to be well managed. 

Perhaps the governance of a Catholic university could be characterized by a special attention to people. I say "special" because I understand that it is something that interests everyone. And also an awareness of one's own evangelizing mission. 

What would be the purpose of a Catholic university in today's polarized context?

-I think that, at this time, Catholic universities can make a great contribution by promoting certain Christian values: respect for the person, love of freedom, the culture of dialogue and encounter, the desire to serve one's own community.

The universal Catholic mentality is accustomed to the coexistence of people from different countries and cultures. This can be seen very well in the pontifical universities, which are a real mosaic. All this, in my opinion, is an antidote that avoids single thinking and polarization.

Teaching, research and social engagement are the pillars on which any university is based. How are they deployed in a Catholic context?

–It is a very broad question, and it would take more than one congress to answer it. To say something common to the three missions, I think that a Catholic university has to offer the possibility of studying the great themes of anthropology, the great questions that every human being asks: life, death, the meaning of existence, the vocation to service. Faith sheds much light on these questions, which are present in research, teaching and outreach.

What business management models can be applied in Catholic universities, maintaining a vision of service and care for the person?

-I'm not sure there is one best business management model for Catholic universities. Models depend on the culture of the country in which the university is located. But if there is one thing common to all, in my opinion, it is that they have to be excellent at managing scarce resources. This implies a lot of professionalism and a lot of ingenuity.  

What impact can the culture of a Catholic university have on today's society? Can it induce changes in the collective mentality?

-The influence of a Catholic university on society is similar to the influence of any other university. Above all, it is noticeable in the formation that its students have received. They are the ones who, when they finish their studies and enter the workplace and social life, bring with them behaviors, values, ideas and projects that have an incalculable impact. 

I think that keeping that personal, concrete perspective helps a lot to work with serenity.

What challenges must Catholic universities face to remain relevant through research?

-The best universities transmit knowledge and also generate it. I think that research in Catholic universities can be very relevant because of the topics it deals with and the approaches it adopts. 

For example, I know of a research project being carried out by several universities that is focused on the study of the values that inspire young people, what attracts and moves them. The possibilities for developing impactful research are endless.

Why do young people continue to choose a Catholic university and how can new students be attracted in a secularized society?

-Catholic universities encounter the same difficulties as all the others: demographic and economic problems, etc. I think students are very attracted to two things about our universities: the close-knit atmosphere and the openness of thought.

A few months ago, an atheist student who came from a theoretically neutral but ideologically very biased university was telling the professor at a Catholic university: "In your course I felt much freer than in the courses I attended at my previous university. Here I was able to talk about everything, to discuss ideas without fear. There were some topics that could not be touched upon or could only be approached in a certain way.".