During my years as Vice Rector of the University of Navarra, I had the opportunity to get to know Bishop Javier Echevarría more closely. Like Chancellor, he had the University in his head and in his heart. He carried out this function for 22 years and, as far as I could see, he did it with faith, magnanimity and charity.

He was a man of faith. He lived to serve the Church faithfully. Most of his words were dedicated to Jesus Christ, whom he encouraged to treat and love. From this deep trust in God came his untiring optimism. No problem or difficulty could discourage him.

He was a magnanimous person. He encouraged us to dream of great projects of service to society. I think that on this point it was especially noticeable that he had learned at the school of St. Josemaría, the founder of the University. I cannot forget a meeting in which he spoke to us about dreaming of a "city of the research", and at the same time he encouraged researchers to work to serve, not to show off. He appreciated the work of existing centers, but was never satisfied with what had already been achieved, which is something very typical of magnanimous people.
And his conduct was motivated by charity. I was always struck by his closeness, his sincere affection. As he grew older, he used to recall more frequently the essential: the primacy of charity. For example, in the cordial relationship between colleagues, the affection for students that should characterize teachers, the climate of conviviality, listening attentively, having the capacity to carry in his heart and in his head - and therefore to remember - events large or small but which affected others and he made them his own, his penetrating, agile and trusting gaze. In times of particular difficulty, such as the last attack on the University in 2008, the word "forgiveness" was always present in his messages.

I remember that year, on the occasion of the bomb explosion, someone asked me: "You are not leaving here, are you"? I had the opportunity to pass the question on to Chancellor and he answered me with this idea: you can tell that person to stay calm; the University will always be in Navarra. Its head and heart are here, even if it has branches in other parts of the world. It was very clear to me that faith, magnanimity and charity lead to a serene and full life, of which he has left us a great example.