On December 10, 2012, the Prefect of the Congregation for Catholic Education, Cardinal Zenon Grocholewski, responding to the invitation of the President of the Holy Spirit University of Kaslik, Rev. Fr. Hady Mahfouz, and visited the University. This visit occurred in a very important stage in the history of the University: 50 years for the recognition of the Lebanese state and 30 years for attributing the adjective “Pontifical” to its Faculty of Theology.

Cardinal Zenon gave a lecture entitled “The Catholic University and New Evangelization” in the presence of Bishop Paul Rouhana, representing the Maronite Patriarch Mar Bechara Boutros Al Rai, Bishop Michel Kobros, Superior General of the Lebanese Maronite Order, Fr. Abbot Tannous Nehme, Lebanon’s delegate at the UNESCO Mr. Khalil Karam, Assistants General of the Order, members of the University Council, as well as heads and representatives of Catholic Universities and students of the Pontifical Faculty of Theology.

First of all, The President of the Holy Spirit University of Kaslik stated that “… the title of the Cardinal’s lecture reminds us of the Synods for New Evangelization that took place in October”. He went on to quote Pope Benedict who said, during the inauguration of the Synods, “Evangelization, at any time and place, is centered on Jesus Christ, Son of God…” He asked God Almighty to “Bless our Academic work to complete the mission of the Church: serving all human beings without any discrimination…” Rev. Fr. Mahfouz concluded by thanking Cardinal Zenon for conveying to Lebanon the love of the Greater Church and for the lecture he gave.

Cardinal Zenon Grocholewski stated that “Today we are celebrating the commemoration of two important events for the University, which coincides in the Year of Faith inaugurated by the Holy Father and with the 50th anniversary of the inauguration of the second Vatican Council”.

Cardinal Zenon then talked about the considerations of the New Evangelization and the evangelization objectives of Catholic Universities in light of the New Evangelization.

He stressed that “… it is necessary to understand the true meaning and role of the New Evangelization, which is related to the mission of the church and dissemination of the words of the Bible. The latter constitutes the strength and tool that God uses on earth for the salvation of faithful humans”. He added that “differentiating between the mission and new evangelization is necessary because there is a difference between those who did not meet Jesus Christ in their lives and those who do not practice Christian rituals”.

He concluded that Catholic Universities play a prominent role in the Church’s mission and that the Bible has the biggest power of changing the world, adding “… the Bible is the consolation of the human being in hardships and I urge your University to adopt the New Evangelization to change the world through the Bible and Jesus Christ”.

Finally, Fr. Abbot Nehme and Rev. Fr. Mahfouz presented Cardinal Grocholewski with a book about the history of Lebanon, published by the University. The lecture was followed by a special luncheon, and later the distinguished guests were given a tour of the USEK Library.