With the pope's agreement and
funding, the Joseph Ratzinger-Benedict XVI Vatican Foundation has been
established to promote theological studies on his writings and to reward
promising scholars.
Msgr. Giuseppe Antonio Scotti, president of the foundation, said it was
established with just over $3.1 million from the pope.
The money
represents part of the royalties from the publication of his books; the
rest of his royalty income goes to charity, Msgr. Scotti told reporters
Nov. 26.
Cardinal Camillo Ruini, retired papal vicar of Rome and president of the
new foundation's scientific committee, said he hoped that someday the
"Ratzinger Prizes" in sacred Scripture, patristics and fundamental
theology "would be considered as something analogous to a Nobel Prize
for theology."
The prizes and the conferences the foundation hopes to host should
focus, like the pope's work, "on helping the truth, meaning and beauty
of Christianity in relation to today's culture and society emerge,"
Cardinal Ruini said.
The activities of the Vatican-based foundation will be coordinated with
those of a Germany-based foundation honoring the pope. The Joseph
Ratzinger-Papst Benedikt XVI Stiftung was established in 2007 by a group
of his former students.
Cardinal Ruini and other members of the scientific committee will draw
up the specific requirements for submissions for the Ratzinger Prizes
and will choose the winners, he said.
The other members of the committee
include two former secretaries of the Congregation for the Doctrine of
the Faith: Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, Vatican secretary of state, and
Angelo Amato, prefect of the Congregation for Saints' Causes.
Archbishop
Luis Ladaria, current secretary of the doctrinal congregation, and
Archbishop Jean-Louis Brugues, secretary of the Congregation for
Catholic Education, also are committee members.
SIC: CNS/INT'L