"As Professor, so to say, emeritus, who met lots of students during his life, I encourage you all to always respect other people’s opinion, dear university students, and to look for truth and goodness with a free and responsible spirit". Those words were spoken by the Pope yesterday, after reciting Angelus, while he greeted and thanked tenths of thousands people coming to St. Peter’s Square to answer Cardinal Ruini’s invitation. "As you know said the Holy Father, – I very willingly accepted the invitation they had made me to take part in the opening of the academic year of La Sapienza, last Thursday. I know this university well, I respect it, and I am fond of the students attending it: every year, and several times, many of them come and meet me at the Vatican, together with the colleagues of other universities". "Unfortunately went on the Pope, this time, the general atmosphere made my presence at the ceremony inappropriate. So I postponed it, though I didn’t want to; however, I decided to send the text which I had prepared for that occasion. The university environment was my world for many years, and now I share with it love for search for truth, for confrontation, and for frank dialogue respecting each other’s opinions. All this concluded the Pope is also a mission of the Church, committing itself to faithfully follow Jesus, Master of life, truth and love".
