Joseph Ratzinger Pope Benedict XVI Foundation

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Logo of the Joseph Ratzinger Pope Benedict XVI Foundation

The Joseph Ratzinger Pope Benedict XVI Foundation was founded in 2007 on the initiative of former students of the former professor of dogmatics and fundamental theology Joseph Ratzinger and later Pope Benedict XVI. founded. Its aim is to open up his theological work to the public , to promote a theology in the spirit of Joseph Ratzinger, who later became Pope, and to bring it into discussion with contemporary issues. In addition to its headquarters in Munich , the foundation has another office in Salzburg .

Foundation and organs

The foundation of the Foundation for the Promotion of Theology by Joseph Ratzinger goes back to the initiative of his group of students. After years of deliberation, the foundation was established with the approval and financial support of Pope Benedict XVI. founded.

The Joseph Ratzinger Pope Benedict XVI Foundation is an incorporated foundation under civil law with two foundation bodies :

A board of trustees supports the foundation, but is not part of its foundation bodies in the legal sense. The chairman of the board of trustees is Christoph Cardinal Schönborn .

Foundation purpose

With the purpose of promoting a theology in the spirit of Joseph Ratzinger / Benedikt XVI. The foundation pursues the following four goals in particular:

  • The award of scholarships and the establishment of visiting professorships are intended to stimulate research into and visualization of his work.
  • His theology and spirituality are to be explored and presented to the wider public at international symposia, seminars or other events.
  • The establishment of documentation and study centers is intended to help maintain its heritage and make it accessible.
  • His theology and spirituality should be v. a. also be presented to the public using modern media.

To fulfill the purpose of the foundation and to achieve the individual goals, the Joseph Ratzinger Pope Benedict XVI Foundation works with organizations similar to the Fondazione Vaticana Joseph Ratzinger - Benedetto XVI , the Pope Benedict XVI Institute. in Regensburg and the Foundation Birthplace of Pope Benedict XVI. together.

The Premio Joseph Ratzinger theology prize, created in 2011 and named after Ratzinger, is not awarded by this foundation, but by the Italian sister foundation Fondazione Vaticana Joseph Ratzinger - Benedetto XVI .

The group of students

The student group Joseph Ratzinger / Pope Benedict XVI. is made up of former doctoral and post-doctoral students of Joseph Ratzinger who he met as a teacher at the places where he taught, namely in Bonn , Münster , Tübingen and Regensburg . At the beginning of 1978, Ratzinger students met for the first time to celebrate the ordination of their teacher as Archbishop of Munich and Freising and his elevation to Cardinal . In 1981 the annual meetings began, most of which Joseph Ratzinger attended. Since 2005, the year Joseph Ratzinger was elected Pope , the meetings have been held annually in Castelgandolfo . In 2013 Pope Benedict XVI took for the first time did not take part in the deliberations, but celebrated the Eucharist with his disciples and greeted them.

The group of students includes 44 students from Ratzinger with the evangelical theologian Werner Neuer as a permanent guest. Stephan Otto Horn SDS , a former research assistant to Ratzinger, is the spokesperson for the student group . Well-known members are among others

Barthélemy Adoukonou , the Curia Bishop from Benin , who was active in the Pontifical Council for Culture until his retirement, was the only African among the group of students . The Jesuit Joseph Fessio (* 1941), who studied with Ratzinger in Regensburg and was later a co-founder of the Ave Maria University in the planned Catholic city ​​of Ave Maria (Florida) created by the pizza entrepreneur Tom Monaghan , was the only American to belong to the circle, but is coming Not to Europe for years. All other members of the student group are Europeans .

Joseph Ratzinger did not found his own theological school. Some members of his circle belong to the Catholic Integrated Congregation , a community of theologians that Ratzinger has been closely connected to in his theological and ecclesiastical work since the 1970s and which, as Munich bishop, he himself recognized as a church apostolic community.

The group of students meets at the end of its annual conference and votes on suggested topics for the following year. A list of the most popular proposals is presented to Joseph Ratzinger, who selects the topic from which the group should deal in the following year. At the same time, a reporter is appointed in coordination between the mentor and the students and then invited to present the topic. In September 2018, the former Pope decided on the topic of "Church and State, Church and Society" and selected Udo Di Fabio as reporter, whom he has known and valued well for a long time.

Publications of the student group:

  • Walter Baier, Stefan Otto Horn, Vinzenz Pfnür , Christoph Schönborn, Ludwig Weimer, Siegfried Wiedenhofer (eds.): Wisdom of God - Wisdom of the World. Festschrift for Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger on the occasion of his 60th birthday. 2 vol., EOS, St. Ottilien 1987
  • Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger, with Stefan Otto Horn, Vinzenz Pfnür, Vincent Twomey, Siegfried Wiedenhofer and Josef Zöhrer (arr.): On finding the middle again. Basic orientations. Texts from four decades. Herder, Freiburg-Basel-Vienna 1997, 1998
  • Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger, with Stefan Otto Horn and Vinzenz Pfnür (arrangement): Weggemeinschaft des Glaubens. Church as communion. Celebration for the 75th birthday. Paulinus, Augsburg 2002 (translated into 7 languages)
  • Stefan Otto Horn, Siegfried Wiedenhofer (Hrsg.): Creation and evolution. A meeting with Pope Benedict XVI. in Castel Gandolfo. With a foreword by Cardinal Christoph Schönborn. Sankt-Ulrich-Verlag, Augsburg 2007 (translated into 6 languages)
  • Vinzenz Pfnür (arr.): Joseph Ratzinger Pope Benedict XVI. The work. Biographical aid for the development of the literary-theological work of Joseph Ratzinger up to the election of the Pope. Schülerkreis (self-published), Augsburg 2009
  • Peter Kuhn (Ed.): Conversation about Jesus. Pope Benedict XVI in dialogue with Martin Hengel and Peter Stuhlmacher and his students in Castelgandolfo 2008. Mohr Siebeck, Tübingen 2010

The new group of students

The annual meeting of the student group has been organized by Pope Benedict XVI on its initiative since 2008. also invited a group of younger theologians to explore his theology and feel connected to his spirituality. The resulting New Student Group Joseph Ratzinger / Pope Benedict XVI. comprises around 30 members, more than half of whom come from German-speaking countries, but some also come from continents such as Africa and America . In addition to Roman Catholics, individual theologians from Orthodox churches are also included in the circle, because the New Student Circle is particularly concerned with ways to achieve full church unity between these churches. In close cooperation with the student group, the members of the new student group promote the development and distribution of the theological work of Joseph Ratzinger in various ways.

Spokesperson for New Students circle were the pastoral theologian Michaela Christine Have Etter ISCSM and Gelsenkirchen Church law professor Christoph Ohly of the priest community P. Tomás Morales .

In 2017, the new student group Joseph Ratzinger / Pope Benedict XVI. converted into a registered association at Benedict's request . The most prominent member of the new student group is Abbot Maximilian Heim OCist from the Heiligenkreuz Abbey near Vienna ; the board includes Christoph Ohly (1st chairman), Sven Conrad FSSP (2nd chairman) and Rainer Hangler ( treasurer ). The Swiss Cardinal Kurt Koch acting at the request of Ratzinger as cardinal protector of the new student circle.

Publications of the new student group:

  • Michaela Christine Hastetter, Christoph Ohly, Georgios Vlachonis (ed.): Symphony of Faith. Young Munich theologians in dialogue with the theology of Benedict XVI. EOS Verlag, St. Ottilien 2007
  • Michaela Christine Hastetter, Ioan Moga, Christoph Ohly (eds.), Achim Buckenmaier (collaborators): Symphony of the Word. Contributions to the revelation constitution "Dei Verbum" in the Catholic-Orthodox dialogue. Celebration of the new group of students for the 85th birthday of Pope Benedict XVI. EOS Verlag, St. Ottilien 2012
  • Maximilian Heim, Justinus Pech (ed.): The center of theology in the work of Joseph Ratzinger / Benedict XVI. (Ratzinger Studies 7), Regensburg 2013

Activities of the foundation

Symposia

To research and disseminate the theology and spirituality of Joseph Ratzinger / Benedikt XVI. In recent years, the following international symposia have taken place in cooperation with the student group and the new student group of Joseph Ratzinger / Pope Benedict XVI. instead of:

  • Freiburg / Germany (September 2011): A hearing heart. Introduction to theology and spirituality by Joseph Ratzinger / Pope Benedict XVI.
  • Maynooth / Ireland (June 2013): The dynamism of Ratzinger's Theology
  • Cotonou / Benin (September 2013): Session Internationale de Théologie. Pour une réappropriation pastorale et pédagogique de la trilogy 'Jésus de Nazareth' (Joseph Ratzinger-Benoit XVI)
  • Morogoro / Tanzania (March 2014): "Where are you from?" (Jn 19: 9). Person and message of Jesus in the trilogy 'Jesus of Nazareth'

Publications:

  • Michaela Christine Hastetter, Helmut Hoping (ed.): A hearing heart. Introduction to theology and spirituality by Joseph Ratzinger / Pope Benedict XVI. (= Ratzinger studies 5). Pustet, Regensburg 2012

The aim of the International Symposia is to make the theology of Joseph Ratzinger known both in Europe and to promote it in non-European cultures.

Pope Benedict XVI visiting professor at the University of Regensburg

On June 16, 2010, the cooperation agreement for a Pope Benedict XVI guest professorship at the University of Regensburg was signed. Its goal is formulated in the preamble: “The internationally oriented visiting professorship at the University of Regensburg, Faculty for Catholic Theology, which is awarded annually, is intended to contribute to the theology in the spirit of Joseph Ratzinger / Pope Benedict XVI. to promote, to develop and disseminate his scientific work as well as his spiritual legacy. ”In the summer semester 2012 the visiting professorship was filled for the first time. The Freiburg sociologist Hans Joas gave a series of lectures on the subject of "Sacralization and Secularization". In the 2013 summer semester, the Dominican François Bœspflug, Professor of Religious History at the University of Strasbourg , was visiting professor; the subject of his lecture series was "The God of Painters and Sculptors". In 2015, the Viennese Judaist Günter Stemberger read as a visiting professor on the subject of "The figure of Moses in rabbinic Judaism and early Christianity", and the following year the Islamic scholar Angelika Neuwirth read about the Koran's relationship to the world . This was followed by a series of lectures on revelation and fundamental theological topics.

Publications:

  • Bernhard Laux (ed.): Holiness and human dignity. Hans Joas' new genealogy of human rights in theological discussion. Herder, Freiburg i. Br. 2013.
  • François Bœspflug OP : The god of painters and sculptors. The incarnation of the invisible. Herder, Freiburg i. Br. 2013.
  • Günter Stemberger : Moses in the rabbinical tradition. Herder, Freiburg i. Br. 2016.
  • Angelika Neuwirth : The Koranic enchantment of the world. Herder, Freiburg i. Br. 2017.
  • Jean-Luc Marion : The appearance of the invisible. Questions about the phenomenality of revelation. Herder, Freiburg i. Br. 2018.
  • Christoph Theobald : Christianity as a style. For a contemporary understanding of faith in Europe. Herder, Freiburg i. Br. 2019.

Benedict Academy in Salzburg

Under the direction of the Austrian Clemens Sedmak , a so-called Benedict Academy took place annually from 2010 in cooperation with the International Research Center (IFZ) and the St. Virgil Education Center. In interdisciplinary discussions, Joseph Ratzinger's thinking should also be made fruitful for socially relevant topics.

Previous topics were: European Identity (September 2010), Building a Culture of Hope (September 2011), Between Reason and Faith: From Almighty, All-Knowing, Omnipresent God to "Stop-gap"? (September 2012) and Economy and Values. An economy of good and bad? (September 2013).

Publications:

  • Clemens Sedmak, Stephan Otto Horn (ed.): The soul of Europe. Pope Benedict and European Identity. Pustet, Regensburg 2011
  • Clemens Sedmak, Helmut P. Gaisbauer, Marina P. Teixeira (eds.): Building a culture of hope. Pope Benedict and the idea of ​​a good future. Pustet, Regensburg 2013

Scholarships

The foundation awards individual study and doctoral grants on a small scale. Studies in the spirit of Joseph Ratzinger were encouraged, but especially those that research his work.

Foundation logo

The foundation's logo is designed like a coat of arms ; it is similar in some elements to the coat of arms of Pope Benedict. The coat of arms is on a golden key; an open book is shown on the upper half of the shield - the key and the book represent the interpretation of the Bible and world wisdom. The lower half of the shield carries the scallop shell - it stands for a legend of St. Augustine of Hippo : Augustine knows that God with the human spirit is as inexhaustible as the sea with a conch shell. The same shell can also be found in the coat of arms of Pope Benedict.

Web link

Single receipts

  1. ↑ Statement by Michael Hofmann on the homepage of the Joseph Ratzinger / Pope Benedict XVI Foundation , accessed on January 26, 2019.
  2. ^ Karl Birkenseer: New Ratzinger Foundation supports young theologians. In: Passauer Neue Presse , November 13, 2008, printout from November 26, 2008.
  3. ^ Fondazione Ratzinger (homepage) , as seen in February 2019.
  4. ^ Institute Pope Benedict XVI. (Homepage) , as seen in February 2019.
  5. ^ Foundation birthplace of Pope Benedict XVI. (Homepage) , as seen in February 2019.
  6. ↑ Awarding of the Premio 2011 to Maximilian Heim OCist , message on the Fondazione Ratzinger website , accessed on February 2, 2019.
  7. ↑ The members of the student group. List on the homepage of the Joseph Ratzinger / Pope Benedict XVI Foundation , accessed in January 2019.
  8. ↑ Hans-Joachim Vieweger: The Protestant Pope student. ( Memento from June 18, 2012 in the Internet Archive ) In: Evangelisches Sonntagsblatt für Bayern , No. 8/2012 from February 19, 2012.
  9. ^ A b Andrea Gagliarducci: Schuelerkreis, padre Horn: “Per Benedetto XVI, la Chiesa si è troppo adattata al mondo”. In: ACIstampa , September 6, 2018, accessed on May 20, 2019 (interview with Stephan Otto Horn , Italian).
  10. ↑ Traudl Wallbrecher , Ludwig Weimer , Arnold Stötzel (eds.): 30 years of companionship. Joseph Ratzinger / Pope Benedict XVI and the Catholic Integrated Congregation. Urfeld, Bad Tölz 2006, ISBN 978-3-932857-40-9 , blurb and passim.
  11. ^ Matthias Beier: Eugen Drewermann. The biography. Patmos, Ostfildern 2017, ISBN 978-3-8436-0601-1 , pp. 194, 197 f.
  12. ↑ The New Student Group 2013 in Castelgandolfo. Message on the homepage of the Joseph Ratzinger Pope Benedict XVI Foundation , accessed on January 12, 2014.
  13. ^ Ratzinger school group meets in Rome (PDF; 600 kB). In: L'Osservatore Romano 35 (weekly edition in German), September 1, 2017, p. 12.
  14. ↑ Report on the 2018 annual meeting of the New School Group on the Joseph Ratzinger / Pope Benedict XVI Foundation website , accessed in January 2019.
  15. ^ Symposia in cooperation with the student group and the new student group of Joseph Ratzinger / Pope Benedict XVI. List on the website of the Joseph Ratzinger / Pope Benedict XVI Foundation , accessed on February 2, 2019.
  16. ^ Pope Benedict XVI guest professorship at the University of Regensburg. Announcement on the homepage of the Joseph Ratzinger / Pope Benedict XVI Foundation , accessed on February 2, 2019.
  17. ^ Publications of the Pope Benedict XVI Visiting Professorship | Herder.de. Retrieved February 8, 2019 .
  18. ↑ Presentation of the project on the IFZ website , accessed in March 2019.
  19. ↑ Andrea Cordero Lanza di Montezemolo : The coat of arms of Benedict XVI. Vatican website, accessed January 25, 2019.