On Tuesday, May 19, a Mass of Thanksgiving was celebrated at the Papal Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, presided over by Rector Fr. Mark Lewis, S.J. As the Rector noted in his introduction to the celebration, the choice of the Basilica was based on three reasons: its proximity to the mission of the Pontifical Oriental Institute, the presence of Pope Francis’s tomb, and the Basilica’s significance in the history of the Society of Jesus, as St. Ignatius of Loyola celebrated his first Mass there. The choir of the Almo Collegio Capranica, directed by Gabriele Imperio, provided the musical accompaniment. The celebration concluded with a moment of prayer by the celebrants in front of the Cappella Paolina, where the icon of Mary, Salus Populi Romani, is venerated.
Following this, the University faculty gathered in the Orientale’s Aula Magna for the traditional end-of-year meeting, as well as for the conferral of emeritus status on professors from the three missions.
For the Collegium Maximum: Prof. Guido Gili (Faculty of Social Sciences); Rev. Mons. Gian Paolo Montini (Faculty of Canon Law); Prof. Stella Morra (Faculty of Theology); Rev. Fr. Jean-Pierre Sonnet, S.J. (Faculty of Theology); Rev. Fr. Dario Vitali (Faculty of Theology).
For the Pontifical Biblical Institute: Rev. Fr. Vincent Pierre-Michel Laisney, O.S.B. (Faculty of Ancient Oriental Studies).
For the Pontifical Oriental Institute: Rev. Fr. Michael J. Kuchera, S.J. (Faculty of Eastern Canon Law); Rev. Fr. Philippe Luisier, S.J. (Faculty of Eastern Ecclesiastical Sciences).
