News around the globe
On 5 June, a symposium will be held in Verona on Onofrio Panvinio (1530–1568), the Veronese Augustinian hermit, antiquarian and humanist. The event is organised under the patronage of, amongst others, the Roman Institute of the Görres Society and the Vatican Archives.
The annual meeting of German-speaking church historians will take place from 14 to 16 September at the EmmeramForum in Regensburg. The theme is ‘Epochal breaks and turning points in the history of the Church and theology’. Registration is required by 29 May.
On 21 April, the Pontifical Theological Faculty of Sicily “John the Evangelist” in Palermo is organising a study day on Pope Leo XIV’s Apostolic Letter of 11 December 2025 on the benefits of studying Christian archaeology.
During his journey through Africa, Pope Leo XIV is repeatedly confronted with the Church Father Augustine of Hippo Regius. Augustine was bishop of the coastal and trading city of Hippo Regius, which is now in Algeria and is an archaeological site of ruins.
Prelate Franz Xaver Brandmayr, who served as provost of Wiener Neustadt following his tenure as rector of the Anima, is set to become the new director of the Austrian Pilgrims’ Hospice in Jerusalem in September. Brandmayr, a former member of the RIGG and a supporter of the organisation, who has already demonstrated during the coronavirus pandemic that he does not shy away from challenges or from standing up for the rights of the faithful, is likely to be an excellent choice, particularly in the current situation.
Deadline: 30 April
The Wilhelm Schneemelcher-Kolleg in Bonn is awarding the Wilhelm Schneemelcher Prize for the study of ancient Christian literature and its reception. The prize money is 1000 euros.
Deadline: 6 April.
From 15 to 17 October 2026, the University of Cádiz in southern Spain will host the 3rd International Conference on Art and Liturgy. The conference is entitled “Locus Sacratissimus. From Object to Place: The Preservation of the Eucharist between the Fourth Lateran Council and the Council of Trent”. One of the organisers is Pablo J. Pomar Rodil, who was a visiting researcher at the RIGG in 2018.
In conversation with the President of the University of Augsburg, Prof. Dr. Sabine Doering-Manteuffel, Prof. Dr. Rainald Becker describes his career and the importance of the subject ‘European Regional History – Bavarian and Swabian Regional History’. He emphasises the significance of the historical relations between southern Germany and Italy.
Von Ingo Schaaf
As is well known, it is not only the Görres Society that is celebrating its 250th anniversary this year (that of its namesake). The United States of America is also looking back on 1776, the year in which independence from the British mother country was declared.
On 12 December 2025, our member prof. Hubert Houben (Lecce) was awarded the Premio Augustale d'Oro di Federico II di Svevia in Torremaggiore (province of Foggia) for his services to research and dissemination of information about the Staufer Emperor Frederick II. Congratulations!
Römisches Institut der Görres-Gesellschaft
