The João Paulo II University Library (BUJPII) is hosting the photographic exhibition Macau in Contrasts (2010-2018), by researcher (ISEG-ULisboa) and anthropologist Marisa C. Gaspar. The exhibition will be on display on the 3rd floor of BUJPII from May 13 to July 15.

This exhibition of 32 photographs displays the vast collection of ethnographic photography that Marisa C. Gaspar has been collecting throughout her fieldwork in Macau, since 2010 and until 2018, in the context of her doctoral research and her post-doctoral project.

Furthermore, among the photographs presented, "The Faith of Men" stands out, winner of an award from the Macau International Institute in December 2023.

Macau in Contrasts (2010-2018) aims to reveal, through visual ethnography, a Macau in transformation, set in a political context of transition and a thriving economy based on the tourism sector in its different dimensions, from gambling to cultural heritage.

On May 7, 2024, at 6:30 p.m., to mark the closing of the 'Echoes of Time' exhibition, on display since November 7, 2023, the João Paulo II University Library (BUJPII) will host the band Acoustic Trio for a musical performance in the library's lounge area.

The musical group Acoustic Trio is made up of Miguel Correia, artist and curator of the exhibition, on acoustic guitar, Pedro Almendra on double bass and João Guimarães on percussion.

The finissage of Ecos do Tempo - an exhibition that takes a look back at Miguel Correia's work in three areas: painting, drawing and photography - will therefore end in a celebratory atmosphere, bringing together art and music.

The João Paulo II University Library (BUJPII), in partnership with the Higher Institute of Canon Law of Universidade Católica Portuguesa (UCP), is organizing the exhibition “A Concordat for the 21st Century”. This exhibition is part of the program of the Conference “A Concordat for the 21st Century | On the 20th Anniversary of the Concordat between the Holy See and the Portuguese Republic 2004-2024”, organized by the Joint Commission on the Concordat in partnership with UCP's Higher Institute of Canon Law.  

This exhibition, which will be displayed in the BUJPII lounge, will open on May 15 and run until June 15.  

The main aim of the exhibition, which celebrates the most recent agreement between the Portuguese Republic and the Holy See, is to explore, through a bibliography and other sources of information, the historical relations between these two states, necessarily highlighting the 1940 Concordat, which precedes the current one. 

Even so, the exhibition does not fail to present other works that demonstrate the geographical scope of the agreements that the Holy See has signed throughout history with the most diverse states, a practice that has continued, and even increased, in recent times. 

The João Paulo II University Library will open two new spaces on the 4th floor to all its users: a room for individual study (Silence) and a room for teachers, researchers, doctoral students and consultation of reserved funds.

The individual study room is intended for bachelor's and master's students looking for a suitable environment to study in silence. The second room will be exclusively for teachers, researchers and doctoral students who need a workspace. This room will also be used for consulting reserved funds, such as archives and old books. Both rooms are subject to prior reservation at the reception desk on the 4th floor. 

From Saturday 14 September, the Library will be open on Saturday mornings from 9:00 to 13:00.

João Paulo II University Library (BUJPII) is hosting the art exhibition “Fancy Van Gogh”, a show by illustrator and cartoonist Alireza Karimi Moghaddam. The exhibition will be on display on the 3rd and 4th floors of the BUJPII building from February 10 to April 4, 2025.

Alireza Karimi Moghaddam was born in Iran in 1975 and holds a master’s degree in graphic design. He teaches at the Faculty of Art and Architecture at Azad University and currently lives in Lisbon. Since he was a teenager, he has had a deep admiration for the work and life of Vincent van Gogh, seeing him not only as a genius artist but as a symbol of love, humanity, and altruism. His interpretation of Van Gogh breaks with the traditional view of the painter as an anguished figure, presenting him instead as a timeless inspiration.

According to Alireza, “Fancy Van Gogh” was born out of a desire to present this great painter innovatively. Far from the image of the tormented artist, Van Gogh is portrayed here as a passionate soul who, through his art, offered beauty and love to humanity. During his short life, his work was not fully understood, but today, his paintings adorn the most prestigious galleries in the world.

The “Fancy Van Gogh” exhibition promises to be a captivating visual experience, challenging visitors to contemplate the Dutch painter's work through an imaginative and contemporary lens. Of the seven hundred paintings created, this exhibition combines a selection of paintings and digital drawings that offer a new perspective on Van Gogh's universe. Each piece is an invitation to discover the painter's vibrant and poetic essence, allowing the public to immerse themselves in a fantastic world where color and emotion intertwine to tell a unique story.

On 24 February, a group of young refugees accompanied by Aldeias SOS visited the headquarters of the Universidade Católica Portuguesa, in an initiative promoted by the Faculty of Human Sciences (FCH), the João Paulo II University Library and the Social Responsibility Office.

The visit took place as part of a research project on young refugees and the use of the media as a way of welcoming them, carried out by professors Sandra Borges Tavares and Patrícia Dias.

Sandra Borges Tavares, a lecturer at the FCH, emphasised the importance of this meeting, "which focused on young refugees and the use of the media as a way of integrating into the host country".

The meeting "drew our attention to the need to create more opportunities, both in terms of cultural exchange and also in terms of our role as researchers and teachers, always with an eye on what is happening in the world".

Inês Espada Vieira, Coordinator of the Initiative for Students and Researchers at Risk at the Universidade Católica, also emphasises the importance of this moment, saying that the moment "in the Portuguese Language II class, of the Applied Foreign Languages course, was a meeting in the “conversation wheel”, all together in the same ethical and human territory, despite the obvious differences in each other's lives".

The tour of the John Paul II University Library included a guided tour, where the young people got to know the different areas of the Library, from the digitisation room and the equipment used, to the monograph collection and the Fancy Van Gogh digital art exhibition. "This initiative reinforced BUJPII's commitment to inclusion and the promotion of knowledge for all", said librarian Samuel Santos.

For Mariana Andrade, Social Empowerment, Diversity and Inclusion Coordinator at the Social Responsibility Office, "getting to know the University and sharing experiences with young people from different backgrounds is always very rewarding. It was especially enriching to see how, in such a short space of time, these young people opened up to this new reality and showed their interest".

Chiara Vitiello, a technician at SOS Villages, thanked us for the experience, saying that "the young people loved it and were very curious about everything they experienced at the University". "Activities like this are great for them to get to know new contexts and people they would probably never have the chance to meet otherwise", she emphasised.

More than just a visit, this experience provided a moment of sharing and discovery, promoting an encounter between different cultures and perspectives.

The João Paulo II University Library (BUJPII) is presenting the photographic exhibition “Portas – abertura para o outro, entrada para a descoberta”, by M. Margarida Pereira-Müller, a native of Portalegre. The exhibition will be on display on the 3rd floor of BUJPII from September 16th to November 15th.

Every day, we open and close physical and symbolic doors, often automatically, without even realizing it.

But what is a door? It's a passageway that allows people to enter and exit spaces.

Doors can be both physical and metaphorical and always have a dual nature. The door signifies the beginning of the new - opening the door - but also the idea of an end - closing the door.

A former student at the Instituto de Odivelas, Margarida Pereira-Müller has a degree in Germanic Philology and a postgraduate degree as a Scientific Documentalist in Editing and Publishing. She has collaborated with various publications and blogs and has had a passion for photography since she was a teenager when she got her first camera. She has exhibited her photographs in various solo and group exhibitions.

In this exhibition of 55 photographs, Margarida Pereira-Müller invites us to contemplate the dualism of doors - simple objects that carry profound meanings. They are an invitation to discovery, representing both the opening to new opportunities and the closing of cycles, challenging us to face physical and symbolic transitions.

The João Paulo II University Library (BUJPII) and the Centre of Religious History Studies (CEHR) are promoting the documentary exhibition “The democratic revolution in Portugal: sources and research projects at UCP”. This exhibition will be on display on the 3rd floor of the João Paulo II University Library building between April 7 and May 30, 2025.

On the 50th anniversary of the first free elections in Portugal, the documentary exhibition aims to expose the archival sources that are available at the Portuguese Catholic University for the study of the democratic transition that began in 1974. Alongside the process of collecting and processing documents, the aim is also to discuss the importance of scientific research in the early days of the University.

The documents on display were collected in the course of two research projects at the end of the 1970s, centered on the Ongoing Revolutionary Process (PREC) and Agrarian Reform.

On April 29, there will be a talk with researchers from both projects. More updates will be released soon.

"Memory is often a place of conflict, but an initiative like this exhibition shows us that when we share memories and talk about the past, we are better prepared for the present". These words were spoken by Peter Hanenberg, Vice-Rector of Universidade Católica Portuguesa, at the inauguration of the exhibition on Blessed Charles of Austria-Hungary.

The exhibition "Life and Memory of Blessed Charles of Austria-Hungary" was inaugurated with a lecture by José Miguel Sardica, professor at the Faculty of Human Sciences, and will be open until 30th April at the João Paulo II University Library at the Católica headquarters in Lisbon.

"Why is it important to know Blessed Charles of Austria-Hungary today?", the historian began. Summarising the life of the last Emperor of Hungary, the professor highlighted the aspects that make this figure relevant today and his exemplary qualities.

"History is unanimous in recognising his simplicity, humanity and devotion," he declared, adding that "his figure and his story are increasingly relevant because, for the first time in 70 years, the European continent is at war, as it was at the time of Emperor Charles".

Blessed by a decision of Pope John Paul II, he was "the first contemporary head of state to be raised to the altars and the only Habsburg in the 650-year history of the family to deserve the honour of beatification" for his exemplary life.

For José Miguel Sardica, "Blessed Charles of Austria-Hungary shows us that exemplarity and the approach to sanctity are possible among lay people", adding that "today, our heroes are full of nothing, and Emperor Charles was no nothing, he was an absolute everything, in that search for peace".

Also present at the event, the Hungarian Ambassador, Miklós Halmai, stressed that "in Charles we can honour a great personality at European level. He ruled in times of war, but was an emperor of peace".

Fr. João Vergamota, director of the Higher Institute of Canon Law, one of the organisers of the initiative, recalled that Charles of Habsburg was the only head of state to respond positively to Pope Benedict XV's call for peace during the First World War. "Blessed Charles is an eloquent symbol of a sovereign who opens his heart to the proposals of the Church for the good of all," he concluded.

The exhibition will be open until 30th April, marking the end of the year commemorating the centenary of the death of Emperor Charles on 1st April 1922. The project has already had an analogous edition at the Porto campus and now arrives at the Católica headquarters.