Highlights from the cultural world of Rome
Prelate Paul Knopp, the long-serving curate and chaplain at the Church of Santa Maria dell'Anima, has died at the age of 87 in his home diocese of Cologne. During his time in Rome (1968–2000), Knopp was a member of the Roman Institute of the Görres Society. In Rome, he carried out exemplary work among German-speaking Catholics, later also supported by the German-speaking pilgrim pastoral care service.
The Vittoriano and the Palazzo Venezia (VIVE) are organising joint lectures under the auspices of the UNIONE, focusing on the theme of foreign nations (Spaniards, English, etc.) in Rome. These lectures are recorded and can be viewed on YouTube.
Since 2023, the Sant'Anselmo Forum has been organising lectures for a wider audience, mostly in Italian. Anyone wishing to engage personally with the relationship between faith and reason is welcome to attend.
Deadline: 30 May
Various universities and the Pontifical Committee for Historical Sciences are planning to publish a book on Francis of Assisi and are inviting submissions.
In addition, a conference on Francis, entitled "Francesco e la storia tra Novitas e Traditio" will be held on 25–26 May in Rome.
Deadline: 25. März
The Sangalli Institute (Florence) is organising an intensive course on Roman archives on the topic of ‘Francescani e Gesuiti dall’Italia al mondo. Carisma, storia, arte, missioni’ (Franciscans and Jesuits from Italy to the world. Charisma, history, art, missions).
On 31 December, the anniversary of Pope Benedict XVI's death, Mrs Clara Miyamoto, a student at the Lateran University and a frequent visitor and benefactor of the Benedict Library, passed away in Rome. Ms Miyamoto, a Japanese national, took an active part in the events of the Roman Institute. For example, she attended the conference in honour of Cardinal Kurt Koch and the recent conference ‘Popes and Vestments’. R.I.P.
This year, a new initiative of young academics (primarily non-theologians) has been formed in Rome, which is jointly engaged with the ideas of Joseph Ratzinger/Benedict XVI and is developing a range of other activities.
Since January, Dr Roberto Regoli, professor of church history at the Gregorian University (not a Jesuit), has been the new director of the Vatican's Ratzinger Foundation. He succeeds Father Federico Lombardi, who served as director for many years.
Our member Cardinal Kurt Koch, responsible for the ecumenical efforts of the Holy See, is being showered with honours on his 75th birthday. In the past year alone, he received three honorary doctorates in theology.
On 24–25 April, the Catholic Academy in Bavaria, in collaboration with the Hanns Seidel Foundation, is holding a small conference on the topic of women in Rome at the Archdiocese of Munich's ‘Casa Santa Maria’ on Monte Mario.
Römisches Institut der Görres-Gesellschaft
