On August 3, Universidade Católica Portuguesa received the visit of Pope Francis for an inspiring meeting with university students. The event, which was part of Pope Francis' official visit in the context of World Youth Day 2023, hosted by Lisbon, featured testimonies of refugee students welcomed by Católica and of students involved in the implementation of the Laudato si' encyclical and the Global Compact on Education. 

The students’ testimonies were followed by a speech of the Holy Father and the blessing of the first stone of Católica’s new campus, Campus Veritati, which will be located on the north side of the UCP headquarters in Lisbon. In his speech, Pope Francis urged students to give back to society. "If those who have benefited from higher education, which remains a privilege in Portugal and elsewhere, do not give back to others, they have failed to understand the privilege they have received", he said.

Beyond this event, Católica was the Pilgrim Welcome Centre for this edition of the World Youth Day, providing essential support and personalized assistance to pilgrims.