Pedro Roseta receives Faith and Freedom award given by the Institute for Political Studies

"At UCP we believe that the future is drawn, maintaining and honouring the memory of the past and of those who informed it". Words of the President of the Universidade Católica Portuguesa, Isabel Capeloa Gil, who presided the awarding ceremony of the Faith and Freedom Prize, attributed by the Institute for Political Studies (IEP), this year to Pedro Roseta.

At the ceremony, part of the Estoril Political Forum, which took place from 26 to 28 June at the Hotel Palácio, the President said it was "a privilege for Católica to host a tribute, which in its original sense means a public act of retribution for the honour and privilege that the life and political and academic contribution of Pedro Roseta has been for the country".

Manuel Braga da Cruz, former President of Universidade Católica and president of the jury of the award, highlighted the fact that the "institution of this award aimed at pointing out to new generations, examples of people who fought for freedom and who did so by inspiration of faith in God and in commitment with the Church".

"We want this time to honour someone who, in his life, fought for our constitution and the defence of our institutions and to distinguish Pedro Roseta, also for his long connection to the University", he added.

A compliment shared by the speaker Guilherme Oliveira Martins, highlighting "Pedro Roseta's remarkable path and exceptional qualities of intelligence, sensitivity, knowledge and wisdom".

Pedro Roseta thanked with emotion, remembering that "we are also what others have done for us" and for that reason "this award allows us to honour those who have helped me at Universidade Católica and outside it".

Born in Covilhã, Pedro Roseta graduated in Law and was a member of the governing bodies of the Academic Association of the Faculty of Law of the University of Lisbon between 1967 and 1968. He was also national president of the Catholic University Youth and director of the newspaper Encontro, published by the Catholic University Youth.

After finishing his degree, he was senior technician at the Office of Studies and Planning of the Ministry of Education, having collaborated in the educational reform of Minister José Veiga Simão, together with Adelino Amaro da Costa, Fraústo da Silva, Alberto Ralha, Roberto Carneiro, among others. In 1972 he was secretary-general of the Universidade Católica Portuguesa and secretary of its Faculty of Human Sciences, which he left in 1973 to take up the post of Head of the Studies Division of the Directorate-General of Higher Education.