"My experience and surely that of all of us who work here is that the University is a unique place to cultivate friendship, whether between seniors and juniors or between professors and students." This was one of the statements made by Professor César Izquierdo during the tribute that the School Theology paid him on the occasion of the celebration of its seventieth anniversary and in gratitude for 40 years of teaching, research and service.

With this affirmation he wished to recall the words of St. Josemaría in which he invited us "to cultivate a firm, loyal, sincere, that is, Christian friendship with all our professional colleagues, and even more so with all men.

He also thanked the former and current professors of the academic center, as well as those from other centers with whom he has shared projects and experiences, and his family, who were present at the event. He also remembered his friend Enrique de la Lama, also a professor at the University of Navarra, who recently passed away and who was for him "a teacher of life".

He was accompanied at the table by Dean Gregorio Guitián, and Juan Alonso, also a professor of theology. The latter made a tour of his academic pathway , as well as the intense pastoral activity that Professor Izquierdo treasures. Of his biographical sketch he said that "although concise, it highlights the tasty fruits of a fruitful life of love for the Church and theology, of a full existence as a priest, theologian, professor and friend, of an example of serene joy and healthy good humor".

"A man with a serious facade but a fun backroom."

For his part, Gregorio Guitián offered four characteristics that distinguish the personality of Professor Izquierdo. First, he thanked him for his report, necessary for prudence in good governance: "If one has not lived something, one lacks perspective and if one has lived it and has not realized it, the result is the same". Secondly, he emphasized his "serious facade but with an amusing back room". Subsequently, he highlighted his involvement staff and his affection for School, "leaving aside his tastes on many occasions to carry out what was needed at the time". And lastly, he highlighted his effort to adapt to other ways of seeing things: "There have been many times when, after expressing his point of view and arriving at a decision contrary to his own, he has been able to keep a discreet silence every time he turned to issues that -as the rest of us or at least I knew- he saw differently, and he has even been personally involved in moving those issues forward".

Finally, he stressed that his recent appointment as Professor Emeritus "reflects on the one hand the affectionate gratitude of the School for so many services and on the other hand the claim, which is a mixture between a plea and a demand, that the School can continue to count on you for many years and for so many things. Basically, we are not asking you for anything other than what you yourself have seen done over all these years by the stupendous body of emeritus professors who have made not only the faculty of this School so proud, but, dare I say it, St. Josemaría, Blessed Álvaro and so many others who, from heaven, intercede so that these Schools may serve the Church, as the Founder of this University said, for all the glory of God.