(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis on Saturday presented the 2013 Ratzinger Prize to joint
recipients: a German lay theologian and an Anglican English Biblical scholar. In
his address, the Pope reflected on the works of Benedict XVI, after whom the award
is named. Highlighting the Jesus of Nazareth series, written by Benedict during
his pontificate, Pope Francis said his predecessor had given to the Church and to
all people a precious gift: his understanding of Jesus, the fruit of years of study,
prayer and theological engagement, in a way that is widely accessible. The recipients
of this year’s Ratzinger Prize are: Christian Schaller, professor of dogmatic theology
and deputy director of the Pope Benedict XVI Institute of Regensburg, Germany, which
is publishing the complete works of Joseph Ratzinger, and Rev Canon Professor Richard
Burridge, dean of King's College London and a minister in the Anglican Communion. Burridge
also participated this week in a symposium of the Joseph Ratzinger-Benedict XVI Vatican
Foundation, entitled “The Gospels: History and Christology”, which took place at the
Pontifical Lateran University, 24-26 October. The symposium's starting point was the
research of Joseph Ratzinger. Burridge received the honour for his contribution
to the historical and theological recognition of the Gospels' inseparable connection
to Jesus of Nazareth. In sharing his reaction to receiving the prize with Vatican
Radio's Lydia O'Kane, Burridge explained he was already expecting to be in Rome for
another conference when he received the news. “We got a letter – actually on my
birthday in June – from the Apostolic Nuncio, asking me if I would accept the honour.
Everybody thought that this was a practical joke from the students, but it was such
a joy to discover that, a real surprise, and a terrific honour,” he said. As the
first non-Catholic to receive the award, he said that his receiving the award “says
something about the importance of what has been happening over the last two or three
decades, not just in Anglican and Roman Catholic dialogue, but internationally in
Biblical studies, as we have been working more and more closely together.” Listen
to the full interview: