President De la Llera inaugurates Academic year with tribute to the Pope and calls on UC Chile voices to impact the country

Inauguration Speech for the 2025 Academic Year by Rector Juan Carlos de la Llera (in Spanish) 

The inauguration of the 2025 Academic Year at UC Chile took place with a large attendance. In his speech, President Juan Carlos de la Llera highlighted topics of relevance to the community, especially those related to the cancellation of academic programs at universities in Chile and around the world, interdisciplinarity, the importance of dialogue, and the diversity of knowledge, backgrounds, and approaches "to resonate harmoniously." He also detailed the UC Chile strategy, which will outline concrete objectives. "It will mobilize us toward a dream, give us meaning, and create a common space," the academic authority stated. 

The Mass and academic ceremony was attended by the Auxiliary Bishop of Santiago, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Santiago, and President of the Education Department of the Chilean Episcopal Conference, Monsignor Alberto Lorenzelli; the Auxiliary Bishop of Santiago, Monsignor Álvaro Chordi; members of the Leadership Council; the President Emeritus of this institution, Pedro Pablo Rosso; the Ombuds, Professor Pilar Cox; rectors and representatives of other educational institutions; directors of foundations and corporations dependent on the UC Chile; donors and collaborators; university authorities; students; and the university community.

Both activities occurred in the Cardinal Juan Francisco Fresno Hall at the UC Chile Central Campus. The Mass was concelebrated by the Auxiliary Bishop of Santiago, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Santiago and President of the Education Department of the Chilean Episcopal Conference, Monsignor Alberto Lorenzelli, and the Auxiliary Bishop of Santiago, Monsignor Álvaro Chordi. 

In his homily, Monsignor Lorenzelli noted that, as Ex Corde Ecclesiae reminds us, Catholic universities were born in the heart of the Church and are called to be privileged places where the search for truth is carried out in communion illuminated by faith. 

"This true transformation begins precisely with the harmony of our human dimensions, with a transcendent outlook and openness to life, cultivating the inner world of each person, recognizing and promoting human dignity as the center of all educational action, and with a preferential option for the poorest, the excluded, and the needy. Only in this way will our university not be an ivory tower of knowledge, but rather a Good Samaritan who approaches reality, heals and bandages wounds," he noted. 

“Only in this way will our university not be an ivory tower of knowledge, but rather a Good Samaritan who approaches reality, heals and bandages wounds." - Monsignor Alberto Lorenzelli, Auxiliary Bishop of Santiago. 

Academic Ceremony 

Then, the academic ceremony began with a speech by President Juan Carlos de la Llera, his first at the opening ceremony of the Academic Year after assuming the position on March 18 of this year. 

At the beginning of his remarks, De la Llera poignantly recalled Pope Francis' visit to the university in January 2018. "He came to remind us that a university like ours does not exist for itself but to offer a service to the country. He spoke of two unavoidable tasks with conviction and humility: contributing to national coexistence and advancing as a community. To a certain extent, it was a premonition of what would come later," he noted. 

He added, "Today, as we begin this new academic year, I invite you to let his words accompany us. Let us not forget that education provides tools for developing critical thinking and raising awareness (…). It is about transmitting knowledge and developing people capable of connecting the mind, heart, and hands. That, precisely that, defines the essence of a university." 

“Today, as we begin this new academic year, I invite you to let his words accompany us. Let us not forget that education provides tools for developing critical thinking and raising awareness” - Juan Carlos de la Llera, UC Chile President 

During his speech, the authority referred metaphorically to the university as an excellent orchestra. "The piece we will play together Today will be called UC Chile Strategy. It will not only outline concrete objectives in prudent times: it will mobilize us toward a dream, give us meaning, and create a common space," he stated. He also explained that, as a university, we seek the training-learning process to be excellent. "May each educational interaction not only transmit knowledge: it may inspire attitudes for life." 

Addressing each level of the university community, the rector told the academics, "You not only interpret knowledge, but you are its composers, and your disciplines are the instruments with which you create new ways of seeing the world." To the students, De la Llera said that they are the driving force behind this institution. "You are the ones who will transform what you have learned into action." In the case of the professionals and administrators, he stated that they are the people who allow "things to work, for university life to happen (…) This orchestra cannot play without you," he emphasized. 

Regarding interdisciplinarity, the academic authority stated that it is not a luxury but an absolute necessity to incorporate complexity. "Often, faculties don't know what other faculties are researching on the same problem. Unfortunately, the real world is not segmented into disciplines (…). For a long time, we have thought about development in a fragmented way. This silo logic seriously limits our ability to understand an interconnected world." 

Along these lines, President De la Llera explained that a university needs diverse knowledge, backgrounds, approaches, and dialogue. "Hence the importance of this metaphor of the hundred UC Chile voices: the expert and informed voices of our academics and researchers, the multiple voices of our students and alumni, the voices of our professional and administrative teams, all of which contribute to the country's major issues, reflections, and challenges." He emphasized: "The university is not just there to appear in rankings, but rather so that the knowledge cultivated here reaches society, challenges it, inspires it, and mobilizes it. (…) We are part of a community that, with others, seeks the same academic dream." 

"The university is not just there to appear in rankings, but rather so that the knowledge cultivated here reaches society, challenges it, inspires it, and mobilizes it." - Juan Carlos de la Llera, UC Chile President

In the final paragraphs of his speech, the Rector mentioned that current times present technological challenges, changes in how we educate, and social tensions. He also emphasized that the cancellation phenomenon at universities in Chile and worldwide has instilled a fear of speaking one's mind. "A university should be a safe place where differences are heard. Where dialogue takes place with respect and empathy. Where a well-founded idea is not censored. Because the most valuable thing a university safeguards is the free exchange of ideas," he stated. 

The ceremony continued with the presentation of the following awards 

• Student Achievement Award
• Professional Achievement Award
• Teaching Excellence Award (PRED)
• The Artistic Creation Award 

Read the speech by President Juan Carlos de la Llera (in Spanish)