Pope to award Ratzinger Prize for theology during Synod of Bishops

(July 20, 2012) The second edition of the Ratzinger Prize for theology will be awarded during the upcoming assembly of the Synod of Bishops in the Vatican in October. Pope Benedict XVI, after whom the prize is named, will himself honour the recipients on Oct 20, announced Msgr. Giuseppe Scotti, the President of the Joseph Ratzinger (Benedict XVI) Vatican Foundation that awards the prize. Msgr. Scotti said that on that day the foundation would wish to thank “in a simple and practical way those who in the darkness of our times spare no efforts to make the splendour of the truth shine out, in deep communion with the Holy Father”. This is why he said the prize, dubbed the “Nobel for theology” has been scheduled during the 13th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops which from October 7 to 28 will discuss the theme, “The New Evangelization for the Transmission of the Christian Faith”. The prize awarded to scholars who have distinguished themselves in publishing or carrying out scientific research, is one of the Foundation's purposes, which include the organization of important study symposiums. The foundation is funded through private donations as well as from part of the royalties from the books written by the Pope.