The UNR awarded its highest title to the theologian and Vatican official for Latin America.
La Universidad Nacional de Rosario honored Emilce Cuda with the title of Doctor Honoris Causa. The event took place at the University Cultural Space (ECU).
Rector Franco Bartolacci welcomed Emilce Cuda to the University and appreciated his career path. “The magnitude of the honoree is evident, that is why as Rector of the UNR, it is a pleasure to receive her in our house and that she formally joins the body of professors and professors. Many times the University ends up being a palace of closed knowledge and logics with which we do not agree are reproduced. For this reason, we seek to open the University, and when the institutions decide to recognize someone, it says a lot about the person, but a lot about themselves. There is also in the recognition a message of the values that this institution assumes and promotes”.
In this sense, Bartolacci stressed that the University must be a device that helps transform the life of society and that is committed to the challenges of its time. "It requires an effort to fulfill what we understand to be the mission of an institution that is the daughter of two cultural political processes that shook the nation, and therefore requires assuming the place that the time indicates to make its contribution," and He added: “As we know that there are many people who are having a hard time and we are convinced that we must recover a more loving way of moving through the world, we decided to recognize personalities who raise them as a flag in their life testimony. Therefore, thank you from the bottom of my heart, Emilce, for your testimony of life”.
During the meeting, a message from Pope Francis was read, in which he congratulated Emilce Cuda for her recognition and the Universidad Nacional de Rosario for promoting this tribute.
This is a doctorate promoted by Darío Maiorana, director of the Center for Interdisciplinary Studies (CEI) of the UNR and Lic. Gustavo Marini, Dean of the Faculty of Political Science and International Relations, and with the support of workers' organizations, a field which has been the focus of Emilce Cuda's theological reflection throughout his theological career.
The doctorate is in recognition of the academic work carried out, from the principles of the Social Doctrine of the Church, and from the reality of labor relations in Latin America, in defense of decent work, in line with the current pontifical magisterium of the Pope Francisco.
“It is an honor to be able to grant this title to Emilce, her political face is what led us to present the proposal to grant this recognition to the Superior Council. The contributions of merit of the new Doctor Honoris Causa are essential in the exercise and defense of democracy and human rights," said Darío Maiorana, who acted as Cuda's godfather, and added: "In addition to academic merits, he has demonstrated in the journey of his life political conviction and work to try to change reality, one that as we all know is highly unequal due to the actions and greed of so many. It is people like her who try to correct this reality based on the dignity of the human person, each time we have greater exercise of human rights.
Emilce Cuda was born in 1965 in Buenos Aires. She is a theologian specialized in Catholic social morality, a university professor and an official of the Roman curia.
Described as "the woman who knows how to read Pope Francis", she is known for interpreting the Pope's teachings through the Theology of the People, Latin American thought, and her own native exposure to Pope Francis' cultural milieu. She is the first Argentine lay woman to receive a pontifical doctorate in moral theology.
Cuda excitedly thanked the recognition from the UNR and the kindness with which they have treated her during her stay in Rosario. “She I am honored by the message of Pope Francis, where she is not only recognizing me as a collaborator but also the Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Pontifical theologians do not have a civil title and cannot teach anywhere in the world. Argentina, thanks to the management of the theology faculties, we have public recognition and civil title, which gives us the possibility of competing for positions in National Universities. Therefore, I feel privileged for this recognition.”
He studied Philosophy at the University of Buenos Aires, Political Science at Northwestern University, and Economics and Business at the University of Business and Social Sciences.
She is an associate professor by public competition at the Arturo Jauretche National University; interim professor at the Argentine Catholic University and the University of Buenos Aires; and Visiting Associate Professor at St. Thomas University, Houston.
“Theology has to learn to dialogue with the secular world, without allowing the ideologization of the symbols of faith, used for political reasons against the people. The recognition of the Public University to theology is very important”, explained the honoree.
She was visiting professor at Boston College University, Northwestern University and De Paul University in the United States. She is a member of the professional consulting team of the Latin American Episcopal Conference and of the team of international specialists of the "The Future of Work" program. Labor after Laudato Si”, from the International Catholic Migration Commission, Geneva.
Currently, he coordinates the international GT of CLACSO: "The future of Work and Care of the Common Home". She has participated in various international conferences, both in America, Europe and Asia, and has published various publications in scientific journals on work and politics. Her latest book is “To read Francisco. Theology, Ethics and Politics” in 2016.
Popular movements are one of the objects of Cuda, seeking to help understand how they originate, and how by addressing these challenges we can contribute to taking charge of those clamors of which popular movements are active subjects", as recently recognized by the secretary of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America.
Journalist: Gonzalo J. García/Photographer: Camila Casero.