On Monday, the 10th November, 2025, at the Antonianum Auditorium in Rome, the traditional Academic Act in honour of Blessed John Duns Scotus, organized by the Pontifical University Antonianum in collaboration with the Scotist Commission and the Italian Centre of Scotism (CIS), took place. The meeting was moderated by Br. Witold Salamon, Member of the Scotist Commission.
After the words of greeting from the Rector Magnificus of the PUA, Br. Agustín Hernández Vidales, Prof. Paola Anna Maria Muller, of the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, spoke.
After a short break, Br. Josip Percan, President of the Scotist Commission, presented his Annual Report; afterwards, Prof. Luca Parisoli, of the University of Calabria and Scientific Director of the Italian Center of Scotism, dealt with the theme "Ad mentem Scoti today".
The event ended with the intervention and greetings of Br. Massimo Fusarelli, Minister General of the Order of Friars Minor and Grand Chancellor of the PUA, who spoke of Blessed John Duns Scotus in the context of the VIII Centenary of Easter of St. Francis of Assisi and the deep bond between the Poverello-the Poor Man of Assisi and his great disciple and interpreter.
Dr. Sottile – explained Br. Massimo – is not simply a Franciscan theologian, but an authentic interpreter and developer of St Francis' charism; an example of this are the eight prayers that, in De primo Principio, accompany philosophical reflection in the four parts of the treatise, which recall Francis' Praises to the Most High, "despite the total difference in style between the illiterate Poverello-Poor Man of Assisi and the learned Scottish theologian." All this reveals a convergence between the two, according to the Grand Chancellor, which finds its reasons in the common contemplative attitude of both.
In his speech, the Minister General referred several times to the Acts of the Conference on the VII Centenary of the death of John Duns Scotus (edited by Prof. Alessandro Ghisalberti and Prof. Ernesto Dezza, OFM) in emphasizing the relationship between faith and reason, lived in prayer.
Connecting to the Eighth Centenary of the Easter of St. Francis that we are preparing to live, the Minister General highlighted how Scotus "developed theologically the Christocentric intuition of the Poverello-Poor Man of Assisi [...] This Scotist Christocentrism is not only an abstract theological thesis, but a vision that illuminates the meaning of our Franciscan vocation: to follow the poor and crucified Christ not to make reparation for the consequences of sin, but because He is the original and ultimate meaning of all creation."
Br. Massimo also emphasized the importance of study as a service: "Dr. Sottile reminds us that the rigorous deepening of thought is not an alternative to the spiritual life, but its authentic service", which commits all the Friars Minor, and especially those of the PUA, to "combine the rigour of study with passion for the Gospel, intellectual research with fidelity to the charism, service to the truth with love for the poor".
"To all of you, teachers, students, collaborators of this University, I hope that the example of Duns Scotus may continue to inspire our academic commitment, reminding us that the search for truth, when it is authentic, always becomes prayer and contemplation", concluded the Minister General.
Read the Minister General's speech
Photo from the OFM Archives