Conflict resolved between Church and Catholic university

A solution appears to be near to the long-running dispute between the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru (PUCP) and the Church over academic teaching.

The dispute has its roots in the demand of the Archbishop of Lima, Cardinal Juan Luis Cipriani, the Grand Chancellor of the university, for greater control over the assets of the university and of the content of its theology courses. In July 2012 Cardinal Cipriani secured a decree from the then Vatican secretary of State, Cardinal Bertone, prohibiting the university from using the titles “Pontifical” and “Catholic”. In December of the same year Cardinal Cipriani withdrew faculties from clergy to teach theology in the PUCP.

Since the election of Pope Francis a dialogue has resumed between the university and the Vatican, and a proposal for the reform of the PUCP’s statutes agreed between the university and the Vatican was presented by the rector, Dr Marcial Rubio, to the university assembly last Saturday, 17 September. Recommending approval of the new statutes, Dr Rubio said that they would guarantee the university’s autonomy, including its right to elect its rector and manage its assets, while recognising the role of the Catholic Church in relation to the university. This will mean the election of a new Grand Chancellor to replace Cardinal Cipriani and the resumption of theology courses.