“A lawyer is, by nature, a peacemaker”

“A jurist is, by nature, a peacemaker.” This was stated by the professor from the Faculty of Canon Law , María García-Nieto Barón, during speech at the graduation speech for the 12 students comprising the 64th graduating class licentiate degree the Faculty of Canon Law licentiate degree , held on Friday, May 22, at the University of Navarra.

In her remarks, Professor García-Nieto, the class’s patron, highlighted the students’ hard work and perseverance throughout their training, as well as their staff growth staff their time at the university. She praised the partnership spirit of partnership , which has allowed them to “grow together” and advance academically through mutual support: “Through your attitude, you have brought to life the idea that if the University’s purpose is to cultivate and promote higher learning, it is to put that knowledge at the service of others and contribute to a more just and compassionate society.”

He also reflected on the meaning of the legal vocation, noting that “to protect justice is to protect the person themselves” and that there can be no peace without respect for individual rights. In this regard, he encouraged the graduates to carry out their work with responsibility, prudence, and a commitment to the truth, recalling the words of Pope Leo XIV: “When the desire for truth becomes research, our boldness in study bears witness to the hope of a new world.”

Speaking on behalf of the graduating class, their representative , Eliar Alberto Alonso, thanked the University and its benefactors for the training . He also thanked their families and friends for their support throughout the three years of training; and, in particular, he addressed a few words to the professors for their high standards and human warmth in teaching them to always seek what is just: “Thank you for rescuing us from the temptation of legal positivism. That narrow view of reducing the law to cold, printed text. From you we learned to look beyond the rule of the rule, to unravel the true spirit of the law, and to understand that Canon Law with the heart of the Gospel.”

graduation ceremony Dean the Faculty, Professor Joaquín Sedano, closed the graduation ceremony following the submission scholarships and class photos. In his remarks, he first expressed his gratitude to Emilio Forte, director Admissions Office attendance the Schools , on the occasion of his upcoming retirement, for his work over so many years. He also encouraged the students to “continue cultivating the intellectual dimension inherent to every university student, which opens the way to broad and lofty horizons such as the search for truth and justice.” Furthermore, he emphasized the importance of staying in contact their alma mater and praying for its educational mission and for the health of its professors.