On Monday, December 19, 2022, at 4:00 p.m., Friar José Alberto SUÁREZ ALEMÁN, of the Provincial Custody of Our Lady of Coromoto in Venezuela, defended his dissertation for a Doctorate in Sacred Theology. His dissertation was entitled, “Theological Anthropology and Graphology: A Study within the Works of Girolamo Moretti.” The dissertation defense was conducted in the Sixtus V Hall at the Pontifical Theological Faculty of St. Bonaventure (Seraphicum) in Rome.

The defense was preceded by a moment of prayer, proposed by the candidate, using the words of Friar Girolamo himself. Friar Stanisław BAZYLIŃSKI, President of the Examining Committee and professor in Sacred Scripture at the Faculty, presented the candidate. In 2011, Friar José obtained a baccalaureate in Venezuela. In 2014, he obtained a licentiate from the Seraphicum, where in 2022, he specialized in graphology of the developmental age. A former formator of the Custody of Venezuela, Friar José is currently Vice-Rector for the temporary professed friars at the Seraphicum.
Friar José masterfully presented and defended his work. He highlighted the potential that is inherent in the study of the rich if unsystematic work of Friar Girolamo MORETTI. Friar Girolamo was able to move between the scientific study of graphology and his vocation as a Franciscan by charting a course between graphology and theological anthropology. Later, Friar José brilliantly answered the questions of his Supervisor Friar Raffaele DI MURO, Dean of the faculty;, his second Supervisor, Friar Emanuele RIMOLI, a professor of theological anthropology and eschatology, and Professor Angela TAGLIAFICO, a professor of spiritual theology. All three unanimously recognized the quality of the dissertation.
At the end of the defense, the committee retired to deliberate on the discussion and the writing of the dissertation. The President of the Committee then proclaimed Friar José as a Doctor of Sacred Theology with the vote of Summa cum laude and offered best wishes for the forthcoming publication of his dissertation, to be determined in consultation with his Supervisors.
Those attending the defense included the Minister General, Friar Carlos TROVARELLI, the Vicar General, Friar Jan MACIEJOWSKI, the Assistant General for the Centralis Europae Foederatio (CEF), Friar Igor SALMIĆ, as well as other friars, professors and students of the Faculty and School of Graphology.
We congratulate our dear confrere. May the path he has taken and the richness of his studies serve to benefit the Church and the entire fraternity.

Friar Roberto LIGGERI