Isabel Capeloa Gil, President of the Universidade Católica Portuguesa and Full Professor of the Faculty of Human Sciences, was awarded the title of Dame of the Order of Saint Sylvester Pope on 28 July, by decision of Pope Leo XIV.

The insignia was presented by the Prefect of the Dicastery for Culture and Education, Cardinal José Tolentino de Mendonça.

The Order of Saint Sylvester Pope is a pontifical distinction awarded by the Holy See to lay people who have distinguished themselves in the exercise of their professional responsibilities and in their commitment to the Church and society.

Additionally, Professor Isabel was elected as the new President of Strategic Alliance of Catholic Research Universities (SACRU) for the three-year term 2025–2028. Alongside her, the Governing Board elected Miki Sugimura, President of Sophia University, as the new SACRU Vice-President.

The election by the Governing Board of SACRU took place on July 27, 2025, in Guadalajara, Mexico, under the chairmanship of SACRU President, Professor Zlatko Skrbis, Vice-Chancellor and President of Australian Catholic University.

In the same meeting, the governing board officially admitted Pontificia Universidad Javeriana (Colombia) as a new member of the Alliance.

This marks the first enlargement of the SACRU network since its foundation in 2020. With this addition, Javeriana becomes the ninth member of the Alliance and the third university from South America, following Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro and Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile.