Carl Anderson receives honorary doctorate at Lublin University in Poland
By Fr Paul Rytel-Andrianik
Dec 11 2023
The John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin in Poland awards an honorary doctorate to former Supreme Knight of Columbus, Professor Carl A. Anderson.
During a solemn but joyful ceremony in Lublin, Prof Carl A. Anderson was honoured with a doctorate honoris causa.
In an interview with Vatican Radio, Prof Anderson said “Receiving a doctorate from the university where Cardinal Karol Wojtyla, later Pope, taught is a great honour. This university is a special place for forming future leaders.”
Motivation
The resolution of the Senate of the Catholic University of Lublin conferring the honorary doctorate to Anderson states that the University wished to “express respect and appreciation for the activities of Prof Carl Albert Anderson, particularly in the development of the charitable work of the Order of the Knights of Columbus, the promotion of the teaching and legacy of St John Paul II, and the promotion of the civilization of life.”
At the ceremony’s opening, Fr Prof Mirosław Kalinowski, the Rector of the Catholic University of Lublin, noted that Carl Anderson is highly trusted and acknowledged Anderson’s long-standing service in various Vatican institutions, where he held important positions dedicated to protecting human life and promoting Christian values within families.
“Outstanding individuals can recognize their talents, put them into practice, and share the fruits of their labour, as in the Gospel parable. In my opinion, just such a man, very generously endowed by the Creator and called to important tasks, is Carl Anderson, for many years Supreme Knight of the Order of Knights of Columbus,” Bishop Wieslaw Smigiel of Torun said of the laureate in his laudation.
Theology of Love
Professor Carl Anderson delivered a lecture titled “John Paul II in the 21st Century”. In the lecture, he presented the idea that St John Paul II’s accomplishments could be compared to those of St Augustine in historical evaluations. It is due to his ability to provide a visionary path for the future of the Church and his efforts in dealing with the decline of one era before the emergence of a new one. He also pointed out that “John Paul II’s theology of love is not an academic exercise, but the core of Catholic life, the heart of the call to ‘open wide the door to Christ’ in the heart of the believer.” – Vatican News
