The Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro (Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro, often abbreviated as PUC-Rio) is a private and non-profit Catholic university, located in Rio de Janeiro, the second largest city of Brazil. It is maintained by the Catholic Archdiocese of Rio de Janeiro and the Society of Jesus. The Brazilian Ministry of Education (MEC) ranked PUC-Rio as the best private university in the country in 2009. In 2010, PUC-Rio ranked second amongst all universities in the country (behind only the University of São Paulo) in the triennial research assessment exercise conducted by The CAPES Foundation, of MEC. PUC-Rio is a privately funded nonprofit organization that excels in the production and transmission of knowledge, based on respect for human values and Christian ethics, aimed above all at the benefit of society. It strives for excellence in research, teaching and extension for the training of competent professionals, able to perform their roles to the fullest in an increasingly challenging world stage.