Jörg Voigt, Johannes Grohe, Andreas Raub, Stefan Heid, Sascha Priester

The Roman Institute of the Görres Society has undergone a small but effective structural reform since April. Four departments have been set up, each with a responsible officer:

  • Department for Archaeology: Dr. Sascha Priester (Munich/Rome)
  • Department for Council History: Prof. Dr. Johannes Grohe (Rome)
  • Department for Art History: Dr Andreas Raub (Rome)
  • Department for the Middle Ages: Dr. Jörg Voigt (Hanover)

This renewal is part of a dynamic growth of the Institute. The tasks of the RIGG have grown considerably in the last decade (the 250-page activity report 2011-2021 will soon be published by Schell & Steiner). In order not to forget the original task of science above the administration and to do justice to the diverse projects and requests, to give the Institute a stronger external profile and at the same time to relieve the director, it made sense to create units (sections). These do not lead to administrative bloat, but will offer all interested parties better opportunities to find the appropriate contact persons for their concerns and wishes.

To a certain extent, the choice of speakers was a matter of course. For in recent years the realisation has grown that many forces can still be released and promoted if competent personalities can be found and directly approached. And these are there: both at the RIGG in Rome and in German Görres circles! The speakers who have now been appointed for the first time do not all live in Rome, but they are all very well networked with Rome due to their activities and can thus ideally serve as bridge builders.

From a historical point of view, the departments are linked to "departments" that the RIGG has had at times in its past. For example, Johann Peter Kirsch headed a "Medieval Department" for a time and Jopseh Wilpert headed the "Archaeological Department" of the RIGG. So the matter is not entirely new, but just promising again today.

The four departments in no way imply a restriction of the RIGG's activities to these four fields, on the contrary: the whole of church history naturally remains the task of the Institute, including ancient church history, modern times and contemporary history. In doing so, the units will merely help to bring greater attention to certain sub-fields.

Which projects the departments tackle, which suggestions from outside they take up, remains to be seen. This will certainly cost money in the future, because spirit will not get far without money. Therefore, it would undoubtedly be in our interest if you, in particular, would think of making a donation to the Institute.

Team and Adresses