Don Gonzalo Aranda joined the University of Navarra in 1969, a year after the creation of the School of Theologyof which he is student of its first graduating class. Since then, and for 47 years, he has dedicated himself, with the availability that characterizes him, to teaching and research at Sacred Scripture.

Last October 23, School paid tribute to him on the occasion of his retirement. Present were teachers, students, relatives, priests of his archpriesthood, friends and colleagues of this internationally renowned biblical scholar.

In the first part of the event, Professor Juan Miguel Díaz Rodelas, Dean- president of the School of Theology San Vicente Ferrer, of Valencia, and member of the Pontifical Biblical Commission, explained the latest document of the Commission, "Inspiration and truth of the Sacred Scripture", recently published.The speaker pointed out the main contents of the document, underlining how inspiration and truth are two concepts core topic for an interpretation of the Bible in the Church.

Event in honor of Prof. Dr. Gonzalo Aranda

Then Prof. Fernando Milán, one of Prof. Aranda's last doctoral students, presented the Issue "Revelation, Scripture, Interpretation. programs of study in honor of Prof. Dr. Gonzalo Aranda Pérez", which gathers 15 programs of study of professors from various universities: Louvain, Pontifical of Salamanca, Gregorian, Granada, Barcelona, Madrid, KU Leuven, San Damaso, Benediktbeuern Theology, Pontifical Academy of St. Thomas, Pontifical University of the Holy Cross and Navarra.

For his part, Professor Gonzalo Aranda expressed his gratitude for the tribute and said that this moment invited him to reflect on "the experience of one's own smallness and trust in the Church. The Bible is a monument of cultures, of languages. Its content opens the reader to a transcendence that makes him see his own smallness and at the same time his value in the eyes of God. "Studying the Bible has led me to value and accept the Church as a recipient of its books and a reader who has known how to interpret them," he continued.

"As the Psalm says, 'I got a beautiful lot.' It has been a few years with an exciting task. Studying the Bible and teaching the Bible in the language and spirit of the Church. I feel great satisfaction for what I leave behind: young teachers who promise a good future, both at teaching and at research."

The Dean of the School of Theology, Professor Juan Chapa, thanked the honoree for the work of all these years and defined him as "a wise, discreet, available and open-minded person: there is no opinion or text from which he is not willing to learn". He emphasized his priestly zeal, since during all these years he has held various pastoral positions in the Pamplona basin.

Gonzalo was accompanied by his sisters, María and M. Ángeles. Among those present were Monsignor Juan Antonio Aznárez, Auxiliary Bishop of Pamplona, and professors Antonio Aranda, Augusto Sarmiento and Josep-Ignasi Saranyana, classmates, who also wanted to share with him this festive workshop .