Pope Benedict XVI on Saturday issued the Motu Proprio Latina Lingua, which establishes
the new Pontifical Academy for Latin. The Academy is meant to promote the knowledge
and study of the Latin language and Latin literature, from classical times to the
present day.
“The Latin language has always been held in high regard by the
Catholic Church and the Roman pontiffs,” writes Pope Benedict.
He pointed
out Latin and Greek were used in the early Church, being the universal languages of
the time, and since then the Church has made Latin “her own language.”
The
Holy Father writes, “After the demise of the Roman Empire, the Church of Rome not
only continued to make use of the Latin language, but also became in a way its guardian
and promoter, both in theology and liturgy, and in formation and the transmission
of knowledge.”
Pope Benedict said a good understanding of Latin is more necessary
than ever in the Church, due to its importance in studying Theology, Liturgy, Patristics,
and Canon Law.
He said a “superficial” knowledge of Latin can be detrimental
to the philosophical and theological training of future priests.
However, the
Academy is also meant to serve the wider society.
“in our own times…there is
a renewed interest in the Latin language and classical culture, and not only on those
continents that have their cultural roots from the Greco-Roman heritage,” Pope Benedict
writes. “Such interest is all the more significant because it involves not only the
academic world, but also young people and scholars from very diverse nations and traditions.”
The
new Pontifical Academy will be under the Pontifical Council for Culture, and replace
the Latin Foundation established by Pope Paul VI. The President of the Academy will
be Professor Ivano Dionigi, while the Secretary will be Father Roberto Spataro, S.D.B.
Its
mandate includes producing publications, hosting conferences and seminars, and promoting
Latin in the new media.