The Universidade Católica Portuguesa took center stage at the OEI–Holy See High-Level Meeting, held on May 29 at the Vatican, which brought together ministers of education from across Ibero-America, institutional leaders, and representatives of the Holy See. Under the theme“Maps of Hope for a Regional Educational Agenda: Mental Health, Digital Technologies, and Education,” the meeting affirmed education as one of the key responses to one of the most urgent challenges facing contemporary societies: mental health.
Against this backdrop of significant political and institutional importance, two professors from the Portuguese Catholic University (UCP) played a central role in the program—delivering an academic presentation directed specifically at the region’s policymakers, which served as a scientific, ethical, and pedagogical framework for the ministers in attendance.
A “lesson” for international policymakers
During the first panel of the event, Alex Villas Boas, a professor at the Catholic University, presented a talk titled “Education, the Search for Meaning, and Maps of Hope,” arguing for the need to refocus education on the holistic development of the individual, through an integration of knowledge, inner life, and ethical responsibility
In turn, Susana Costa Ramalho, also a professor at UCP, addressed “Mental Health and Education as a Structural and Growing Problem,” highlighting that the relationship between education and mental health must be understood as a structural pillar of public policy and not as a complementary dimension.
These presentations, delivered directly to education ministers from across Ibero-America, offered a rigorous synthesis of academic research, social analysis, and strategic vision, helping to inform the subsequent political dialogue on curriculum, pedagogy, teacher training, and educational governance.
An ethical and humanistic framework from the Holy See
The meeting was also marked by significant contributions from the Holy See, which reinforced the ethical and humanistic dimensions of the educational discourse. During the opening session, Cardinal José Tolentino de Mendonça emphasized the importance of an education that goes beyond the technical and instrumental dimensions, placing the person at the center and promoting a holistic vision of human development.
This framework aligns with the vision inspiring the meeting, which proposes “charting new maps of hope” through an education capable of integrating technical, emotional, social, and ethical competencies, responding to the challenges of the digital world and the contemporary crisis of meaning.
For his part, the Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, highlighted in his speech the urgent need for coordinated action between the education sector and other social sectors to address the growing mental health issues among young people, emphasizing that this is a challenge that requires integrated public policies and effective collaboration among institutions.
Education and mental health: a structural challenge
The meeting reinforced the international consensus that mental health is now a structural and growing phenomenon, with a direct impact on learning, retention in the education system, and social cohesion.
The scientific evidence presented indicates that many mental health disorders begin in childhood and adolescence, often exacerbated by factors such as social inequalities, academic pressure, and intensive exposure to digital media.
In this context, schools emerge as a key setting for intervention and should systematically integrate social-emotional skills, promote inclusive environments, and collaborate with families and communities.
Academic knowledge in the service of public policy
The remarks by faculty members from the Universidade Católica Portuguesa highlighted the role of universities as a bridge between science, ethics, and policy-making. By bringing research and reflection directly into the forum for debate among ministers, the University contributed to a more informed, integrated, and humanistic approach to education policy.
The very design of the meeting confirms this vision by promoting cooperation among governments, international organizations, and academic institutions as the foundation for effective and sustainable responses.
A shared agenda for the future
The meeting identified three key areas of action: caring, by prioritizing mental health as an essential prerequisite for learning; connecting, by promoting ethical and inclusive digital integration; and transforming, by revitalizing education as a driver of human and social development.
In this context, the participation of the Portuguese Catholic University takes on particular significance, not only because of the scientific contributions of its faculty, but also because of its ability to influence international agendas and to champion a vision of education centered on human dignity and the common good.
The event concluded with the signing of a letter of commitment among the Ibero-American states to continue deepening the discussion and to conduct research and develop strategies in this field.