New Taipei City, Taiwan—Fu Jen Catholic University (FJCU), the only Catholic University affiliated to the Holy See in the Chinese-speaking world, is proudly celebrating its 100th anniversary. Established in Beijing in 1925, the university’s centennial coincides with the 2025 Jubilee of the Catholic Church, marking a historic double celebration of faith, academic excellence, and service to humanity.
As a premier institution in Taiwan, Fu Jen is globally recognized for its rigorous teaching standards, international outreach and powerful alumni network. It ranks second in student number among the country’s 150 universities. Throughout 2024 and 2025, FJCU has hosted a series of high-profile events that align its rich Catholic heritage with modern global challenges.
The Centennial celebrations have been strategically integrated with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the evolving landscape of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Key highlights from the year include: Sustainability Initiatives, which include an international forum and conference on sustainable finance, extensive campus “greening” campaigns to reinforce the university’s commitment to social justice and environmental stewardship. Addressing the Catholic identity of the university, “Humanity in the Age of AI” conference was hosted to showcase findings from the Humanism at the Time of Neurosciences and Artificial Intelligence (NHNAI) project, organized by the International Federation of Catholic Universities (IFCU). A landmark seminar, “From Nobel Prize to AI,” featured distinguished speakers including Nobel Laureate James Rothman, Dr. Joy Hirsch, former Vice-President Dr. Chien-Jen Chen, and H. E. Cardinal Turkson, Chancellor of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences and Social Sciences.
The year-long festivities culminated in December with an Anniversary Mass and a formal Centennial Celebration. H. E. Archbishop Polvani, Secretary of the Dicastery for Culture and Education, delivered a congratulatory message from His Holiness Pope Leo XIV. The Pope praised the university for its “generous fruit,” noting its success in uniting intellectual rigor with the university motto: Veritas, Bonitas, Pulchritudo, Sanctitas. Attending the Centennial Ceremony, the nation’s President, William Lai lauded FJCU’s unique role in Taiwan’s society, stating: “Fu Jen not only impart knowledge but also teaches student to be rooted in faith and supported by charity, enabling them to acquire knowledge not only to illuminate themselves, but also to illuminate others.” Also present at the celebrations are Right Rev. Martin de Porres Bartel, O.S.B., Archabbot of St. Vincent Archabbey from Latrobe Pennsylvania, whose predecessors established Fu Jen Catholic University in Beijing at the request of the Holy father during the 1920s, and Sr. Miriam Altenhofen, the Congregational Leader of the Missionary Sisters Servants of the Holy Spirit, the religious congregation which has assisted the operation of Fu Jen both in China and Taiwan.
Reflecting on the overwhelming support from alumni and global partners, FJCU President Francis Yi-Chen Lan expressed his commitment to the university’s mission. “I am deeply moved by the cohesive power of the Fu Jen community,” said President Lan. “Moving forward, we will continue to cultivate young professionals who possess not only competence but also social conscience and international responsibility. Our goal remains to build a more just and benevolent world.”
