Pontifical Catholic University of Argentina

Pontifical Catholic University of Argentina Overview

The Universidad Católica Argentina (UCA), officially known as the Pontificia Universidad Católica Argentina Santa María de los Buenos Aires, is a private university located in the Puerto Madero neighborhood of Buenos Aires, Argentina.

History

Background

Originally, there was a first Catholic University with a Faculty of Law that couldn't continue to exist because it never obtained the validation of its degrees in Argentina. It existed from 1910 to 1922 under the name of Universidad Católica de Buenos Aires.

Courses in Catholic Culture

In 1922, the Courses in Catholic Culture (C.C.C.) were created (later called the Catholic Institute of Culture of Buenos Aires), offering a Catholic university education parallel to the official universities. The C.C.C. had schools of Philosophy, Economics, and later Arts, as well as periodic academic publications and edited books. These courses served as precursors to the foundation of the Universidad Católica Argentina.

These courses were created for university students, representatives of the national, Catholic, and anti-liberal thought of the country's clergy, and included notable educators like Atilio Dell'Oro Maini, Luis María Etcheverry Boneo, Octavio Nicolás Derisi, Guillermo Bolatti, Tomás Juan Carlos Solari, Zacarías de Vizcarra, Gustavo Juan Franceschi, Pablo Antonio Ramella, and Manuel Moyano.

Freedom to Establish Private Universities

The abolition of the state monopoly over university education had been a historical aspiration of the Catholic Church, which had founded the country's first universities, later expropriated. A clear precedent in this regard is José Manuel Estrada.

In the mid-20th century, by the decision of the Christian Democrat Minister of Education Atilio Dell'Oro Maini, legislation regarding the possibility of private education materialized on December 22, 1955, in decree-law 6403. This allowed the creation of private universities with the capacity to award degrees and academic diplomas, establishing university autonomy. Thanks to these efforts, on June 8, 1956, the Universidad Católica de Córdoba was founded, among other private higher education institutions.

During the presidency of Arturo Frondizi in 1958, a secularist movement emerged with the approval of two major laws: the Statute of Teachers and the one that allowed private universities to issue professional titles. This latter law triggered a significant student protest known as "Laica o libre" (Secular or free). Ultimately, the faction of Frondist radicals, Christian Democrats, Catholic nationalists, and allies led by President Frondizi managed to pass this reform, which granted legal status to new universities.

Foundation

The foundation of the Universidad Católica Argentina took place on March 7, 1958, through a collective declaration by the Episcopal Conference, which also promulgated its initial statutes on an experimental basis. On March 8, 1958, Cardinal Antonio Caggiano, President of the Permanent Commission of the Argentine Episcopal Conference, appointed Octavio Derisi as the rector by decree. The Council of Superior Members, the deans of the Faculties of Law and Social Sciences, Economic Sciences, and Philosophy were also appointed on that day. The Council of Superior Members, presided over by the rector and composed of members such as Ángel J. Battistessa, Guillermo Blanco, Mariano Castex, Atilio Dell'Oro Maini, Agustín de Durañona y Vedia, Luis María Etcheverry Boneo, Alberto Ginastera, Faustino Legón, Emiliano J. Mac.Donagh, Francisco Valsecchi, Amancio Williams, and Ricardo Zorraquín Becú, held its first meeting on March 14 of that year.

Inauguration and Civil Recognition

The inauguration took place on May 6, 1958, and the University Council of Administration was appointed on July 25. On September 23, 1959, legal personality was granted through Decree No. 11.911 of the National Executive Branch, which civilly approved its statutes. On October 30, 1959, the Minister of Education and Justice visited the Universidad Católica Argentina to conduct an inspection to verify if the institution complied with the requirements of Law 14.557 and its regulations. Finally, on November 2, Minister Mac Kay signed Decree No. 14.397, officially recognizing the Universidad Católica Argentina.

Recognition by the Holy See

On July 16, 1960, the Sacred Congregation for Seminaries and Universities issued a decree through which it "constituted, erected, and declared the University called Santa María de los Buenos Aires, existing in the Buenos Aires metropolis, as perpetually erected, honoring it with the title of Pontifical." In the same act, the Holy See appointed the archbishop of Buenos Aires as the Grand Chancellor of the UCA. As a result, the Universidad Católica Argentina is the only Catholic university in the country with the title of pontifical.

This history traces the origins, development, and recognition of the Pontificia Universidad Católica Argentina Santa María de los Buenos Aires. If you have any specific questions or require further details about certain aspects, feel free to ask.