This year the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross, which was founded in 1984, celebrates its 25th anniversary. On Wednesday, November 4th, the Prelate of Opus Dei, Bishop Javier Echevarría, who is also the Chancellor of university, presided over the ceremony that opened the 2009-10 academic year.

"What we see today after a quarter of a century," said Bishop Echevarría, "was made possible by the love for the Church and the priesthood that characterized the Founder of Opus Dei, St. Josemaría Escrivá de Balaguer, and his successor, Bishop Alvaro del Portillo. St. Josemaría wanted to promote a university center in Rome where the ecclesiastical disciplines would be taught at a high academic level and in full communion with the Church’s Magisterium. His desire for this project was born from his wish to foster among Catholics unity with the successor of St. Peter. With all his heart he loved Rome as a symbol of the unity and catholicity of the Catholic Church and as the site of a centuries-long history of sanctity."

In his address, the Prelate of Opus Dei also recalled that Bishop Alvaro del Portillo had wanted this center to have certain very clear characteristics: a full adhesion to the Church’s Magisterium, a vigorous dialogue with contemporary culture, an assiduous academic formation of the students, while at the same time offering the best possible spiritual assistance.

Msgr. Antonio Miralles delivered the inaugural lecture. He summed up the spirit which the university’s founder and first Rector, Bishop Alvaro del Portillo, wanted for it: "The heart of university life lies in enthusiasm for the truth, along with the desire, shared by the professors and the students, to always continue to learn."

To mark the 25th anniversary of the university, there will be a photo exhibit about the origins and development of the university on the first floor of the Apollinare building.