On November 8, 2025, the Carlos Lopes Pavilion in Lisbon hosted the CATÓLICA-LISBON Graduation Ceremony, one of the most symbolic and inspiring moments of the academic calendar. More than 650 students celebrated the completion of their undergraduate and master’s degrees, surrounded by family, friends, professors, and colleagues in an atmosphere of pride, emotion, and accomplishment.
Dressed in traditional academic gowns, the graduates took their seats with a gleam in their eyes that revealed both excitement and nostalgia as they reunited with those who had become part of their story over the years.
The ceremony brought together several leading figures of the academic community, including Filipe Santos, Dean of CATÓLICA-LISBON; Isabel Capeloa Gil, Rector of the Universidade Católica Portuguesa; Nélson Ribeiro, Vice-Rector; and Aníbal Cavaco Silva, former Prime Minister and President of the Portuguese Republic. Also present were Rita Coelho do Vale and Kyryl Lakishyk, Academic Directors of the Bachelor’s and Master’s programs respectively, along with other members of the school’s academic leadership.
In his opening address, Dean Filipe Santos emphasized the transformative power of education in a rapidly changing world. Speaking to the new graduates, he left an appeal that resonated throughout the auditorium: “Do not go through the world as spectators. Be the protagonists of our collective future. The world needs your lucid minds and your courageous hearts.” He went on to highlight that the ultimate purpose of higher education lies in the ability to place knowledge at the service of the common good: “Build your path upon the solid values you have acquired and upon your desire to contribute to the well-being of others. That is where the true meaning of life lies.”
Recalling that each graduate now becomes an ambassador of CATÓLICA-LISBON, Filipe Santos expressed his pride in seeing the alumni community grow to over 16,000 members, among them, the keynote speakers of this edition: two alumnae who embody the school’s global impact.
Rosa Abrantes-Metz, a CATÓLICA-LISBON graduate from 1993 and PhD in Economics from the University of Chicago, is currently one of the leading competition analysts in the United States. Addressing the undergraduate students, she shared a message of inspiration and confidence: “The greatest opportunities often arise from unexpected paths. The secret lies in having the courage to question and to reinvent.” She urged graduates to nurture intellectual curiosity and to act with integrity, even in uncertain times.
Sofia Tenreiro, CEO of Siemens Portugal, spoke to the new master’s graduates, offering a reflection on authenticity and purpose. “Life is not a ladder to climb, but a journey to build with resilience and truth,” she said, encouraging them to value personal growth as much as professional success and to maintain a sense of contribution and meaning in every step of their careers.
Among the ceremony’s most memorable moments were the speeches by the Academic Directors of the Bachelor’s and Master’s programs, who had accompanied the students since the beginning of their academic journey. Rita Coelho do Vale emphasized that this moment represents more than the end of a cycle: it marks the beginning of a lasting connection with the CATÓLICA-LISBON community, built on values, friendship, and shared responsibility. She reminded graduates that their classmates would remain a lifelong network of support and inspiration, united by a common purpose of contributing to the greater good.
Kyryl Lakishyk used the metaphor of a journey to describe the transformation the students had undergone, reminding them that “you began as crew members and now set sail as captains, ready to command your own course.” His message, filled with recognition and optimism, underscored that true leadership is born from ambition, perspective, and trust in great teams.
Following the presentation of diplomas, Rector Isabel Capeloa Gil took the stage to address the leaders of tomorrow. With her characteristic conviction, she called the graduates “the true champions” of the Class of 2025 and underlined that “the future will be as great as your courage to face it.” Acknowledging the complex challenges facing humanity, from climate change to artificial intelligence and growing inequality, she reaffirmed her faith in CATÓLICA-LISBON graduates: “This is not a time for walls, but for dialogue and respect for our shared humanity. The challenge of your time is to turn uncertainty into action.”
The CATÓLICA-LISBON Big Band, composed of students, staff, and faculty, filled the hall with music, bringing emotion to key moments of the event. After the traditional Gaudeamus Igitur, applause blended with the bittersweet feeling of an ending and a new beginning. For the newly graduated, that moment symbolized the celebration of growth, perseverance, and dreams ready to take flight.
On a day that will remain engraved in memory, CATÓLICA-LISBON once again fulfilled its mission of shaping citizens ready to lead with humanity and vision, in a world that needs, more than ever, lucid minds and committed hearts.