Rome, FEB 2, 2012--On Thursday February 2, Professor Alfonso Nieto passed away at the University Hospital of Navarre (Spain). An advocate for the birth of journalistic studies at the university level in Europe, Prof. Nieto was also a promoter of the first--and to this date, only--school of institutional communications in the Catholic Church.

Born in Asturias, Spain in 1932, Alfonso Nieto became a professor of Media Economics at the Complutense University of Madrid. From 1969 to 1974 he served as President of the of the University of Navarre's Journalism Institute (later the University's School of Communications), and from 1979-1991 became Rector of the University itself.

His studies in communication economics earned him recognition throughout the international academic community. He received for example, the honor award from the "Journal of Media Economics."

Inspired by an old aspiration held by St. Josemaría Escrivá--the university formation of journalists--Prof. Nieto contributed in a decisive way to the recognition of Journalism as established subject in Spanish Universities.. Thirty years later, with an intuition once more ahead of his time, he realized that professionals who must face the challenges of communications within Church institutions need an adequate university and professional preparation.

Joaquín Navarro-Valls, Spokesman for John Paul II as well as for the first years of Benedict XVI's pontificate, said of Alfonso Nieto:

"Professor Nieto was one of the most effective promoters of accreditation for professional journalism in the University field. In the 60's his intuition led him to become a pioneer in promoting journalism schools across Europe. A few years later, ahead of his time, he promoted the professional, university formation of those who accept and fulfill communication responsibilities within Church institutions. Of course, his ideas were not only wishful thinking; in these two areas, he knew how to convert them into concrete results, many of which I am a grateful and admiring testimony."

This is precisely the case in the birth of the University of the Holy Cross' School of Institutional Communications, which prepares communications directors for Dioceses and other Church institutions. A colleague at the Holy Cross, Prof. Juan Manuel Mora, remembers: "Alfonso had a creative intelligence, a passion for communication, and love for the Church. It is these qualities that gave rise to the School."

On April 9, 2008, together with Cardinal Camillo Ruini, Prof. Nieto was awarded a Doctorate Honoris Causa in Institutional Communications by the University of the Holy Cross, where he served as an active professor until a few months before his death.

Fr. Luis Romera, Rector of the Holy Cross, remembers Prof. Nieto's example of tact, breadth of vision, passion for the university life, and good humor, together with his "testimony of an authentic Christian life."

Office of Communications
Pontifical University of the Holy Cross

Video "In Memory" created by the University of Navarre