By Beatriz Fiore
Rome, Feb. 25 – More than a month has passed since Pope Benedict XVI canceled an appearance to speak at the city's largest public university, La Sapienza, and still students and academics are talking about the snub.
The Vatican was forced to cancel the Pope's 17 January address, which was to coincide with the opening
of the new academic year. A number of professors, most of them belonging
to the university’s science department, thought this highly inappropriate,
and numerous protesting students manifested against the pope.
“I can understand both sides,” says Tommaso Longo,
who studies Law at La Sapienza, “the pope shouldn’t be invited to
speak in [public] institutes. Not all people are Catholic and willing to
listen to a religious leader. Faith is a private, individual thing, which
shouldn’t intervene with the public sphere. However, freedom of speech
has to be respected for all.”
The debate has generated discussion among John Cabot University students as well. “I don’t think he should speak as Pope Benedict XVI giving
moral and religious advice, but as an important scholar among other
important professors,” says international affairs major Laila Semenza.
Strong views are still held by both Italian and foreign students about
the pope’s role in their lives. For some, he is just a Vatican attraction. “It’s nice to
see huge masses of people queue up at the gates of St Peter’s, but
for me he’s just a tourist attraction with no social importance,”
says Antonio Cortès, a Spanish student visiting Rome for the first
time, “However, that’s just my opinion. I understand he is important
on a religious level for Catholics all over the world.” For others, the pope is a source of moral and spiritual
guidance, and should have his say on political and social issues.
By Melissa Colabraro 
Recent Comments