Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa spoke at the conclusion of the ceremony awarding honorary doctorates to the King of Spain and the President of Italy by the University of Coimbra.
The Portuguese head of state surprised attendees by delivering his entire brief speech in Latin without any prepared translation in the Sala dos Capelos, where the ceremony took place.
Before the honorary graduates, Felipe VI and Sergio Mattarella, along with academics and guests, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa announced, while speaking in Latin, that he would use the language that is “the root” of the languages of Portugal, Spain, and Italy.
According to the translated version of his speech later made available to the media, the President of the Republic highlighted “notable common virtues” of the King of Spain and the President of Italy: “Respect for human dignity, character, intelligence, sense of mission, temperance, universal vision.”
“Other virtues exist and are important. These are the decisive ones, to govern the people, to love them, to serve them, to set an example of life, to honor our sister countries, to deserve the laurels of the University of Coimbra, a school of personal and community virtues,” he added.
In this ceremony, the King of Spain, Felipe VI, was awarded an honorary doctorate degree by the Faculty of Law, and the President of Italy, Sergio Mattarella, by the Faculty of Economics of the University of Coimbra, the oldest higher education institution in Portugal.
Among those attending the ceremony were the President of the Assembly of the Republic, José Pedro Aguiar-Branco, the Attorney General, Amadeu Guerra, the Ombudsman, Maria Lúcia Amaral, the President of the Court of Accounts, Filipa Urbano Calvão, and the Ministers of State and Foreign Affairs, Paulo Rangel, and Justice, Rita Alarcão Júdice.
Former President of the European Central Bank (ECB) and former Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi also attended.
Felipe VI, Sergio Mattarella, and Mario Draghi traveled to Coimbra for the 18th Cotec Europa summit, which takes place between today and Wednesday, coinciding with the official campaign period for Sunday’s snap legislative elections in Portugal.
Following the speeches of the two honorary graduates, praises were delivered by Professors Rui de Figueiredo Marcos and Raquel Freire, followed by the final address by the President of the Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa.
On Wednesday towards the end of the morning, the heads of state of Portugal, Spain, and Italy will speak at the closing session of the 18th Cotec Europa summit, which will also feature Mario Draghi in a discussion about the future of Europe.
[Updated at 8:30 PM]
