D. José Cordeiro stressed the importance of keeping academia and knowledge intact in their humanity
Yesterday, the Archbishop of Braga challenged the Portuguese Catholic University (UCP) to “Be Human” in a time of Artificial Intelligence (AI), the internet and digitalization. According to Archbishop José Cordeiro, first and foremost, “this is the challenge of a university and a Catholic University”, which simultaneously promotes knowledge, “knowing how to do” and “knowing how to be”.
D. José Cordeiro was speaking during the UCP-Braga Academic Day ceremony, which took place in the Aula Magna of the Faculty of Philosophy and Social Sciences (FFCS), with the main purpose of uniting the Academic Community in a day of celebration.
“At a time when we are living in the age of the internet, digital and artificial intelligence, this day and so many other acts are important because they help us to give meaning, the meaning of life and the university in integral humanity, in truth, as close as possible, in knowledge and science,” said the Metropolitan Archbishop of Braga, stressing the importance of keeping the Academy and knowledge intact in their humanity.
“It's a joy to take part in Campus Day, valuing the community itself, the encounter, the relationship, which is increasingly fundamental and decisive due to the complexity of life itself and also within the university,” he said.
In a year in which the UCP celebrated its National Day with the motto “Knowledge as hope”, Bishop José Cordeiro recalled a recently published joint note from the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith and the Dicastery for Culture and Education, called “Antiqua et Nova”, which addresses the relationship between artificial intelligence and human intelligence.
The patron of the UCP's Braga Campus ended by recalling the final conclusions of the note, stating that “from the perspective of wisdom, believers will be in a position to act as responsible agents, capable of using this technology to promote an authentic vision of the human person and of society, based on an understanding of technological progress as part of God's plan for creation, an activity that humanity is called to order, up to the Paschal Mystery of Jesus Christ, in the constant search for truth and goodness”.
Tribute to staff and prizes for the best students
UCP-Braga's Academic Day was marked by a tribute to teachers and staff celebrating 25 and 40 years of service and retirees, as well as the presentation of prizes to the best students.
The session opened with a performance by Líricas - Tuna Feminina da UCP - Braga, and was part of the academic procession to the sound of the CRB Academic Choir. The morning was also marked by workshops promoted by the various UCP - Braga groups, namely Radio Sintoniza*te, Cuidar*te, the Psychology Student Group, Mentoriza*te, Voluntaria*te, the Community Service and the Braga Academic Centre, with the support of the UCP4SUCCESS Project.
In the afternoon, and to round off the celebrations, Onésimo Teotónio de Almeida, from Brown University (USA), gave a lecture in the Isidro Alves Auditorium on his latest book “Diálogos Lusitanos” (Lusitanian Dialogues).
