Vatican Foundation: Joseph Ratzinger – Benedict XVI
(November 27, 2010) Msgr. Giuseppe Antonio Scotti president of the Vatican Foundation:
Joseph Ratzinger - Benedict XVI" in a Press Conference in Rome on Friday, explained
how on 1st of March this year the Holy Father had ordered the creation
of this new foundation, in order to respond to a desire expressed by many scholars
over the course of the years. The committee will have three tasks, he said, "firstly,
drawing up criteria and objectives for the annual and long-term programme of the foundation's
activities; secondly, establishing criteria of excellence for the creation and conferral
of prizes to scholars who have distinguished themselves in academic publications and/or
research; and finally, organising cultural and academic initiatives". As regards the
financing of the new body, he explained, "a first ample contribution will come from
the Pontiff himself, who has chosen to devolve a large part of the proceeds from his
author rights". He added that the theology of Joseph Ratzinger moves forward, looking
to the present and the future on the basis of an extraordinary knowledge of the origins
and history of the Christian faith. His capacity, what can be called his tastefulness,
in keeping these two aspects united, likens Joseph Ratzinger to great teachers of
other periods of Christian history. Further, the foundation will focus particular
attention, on the one hand on biblical and patristic studies, and on the other on
fundamental theology, he said. The foundation’s goal is to promote the study of Joseph
Ratzinger's theology and spirituality, propagating his ideas in the Church and society,
and ensuring they are absorbed. One of the foundation's projects concerns the University
of Regensburg "with the creation of chair for a visiting professor in the faculty
of theology during the summer term".