Pope Benedict commends scholars for ‘Ratzinger Prize’ awards

October 22, 2012

Two scholars—an American theologian and a French historian—were honored at the Vatican on October 22 as the recipients of this years Ratzinger Prizes for excellence in the study of religion.

After the presentation of the awards to Father Brian Daley, SJ, a Notre Dame theology professor specializing in ecumenism; and Remi Brague, a historian from the Sorbonne, Pope Benedict XVI saluted bother men as “experts deeply involved in two questions which are vital for the Church in our time: ecumenism and relations with other religions.” “Father Daley, by studying the Fathers of the Church, has entered into the best school for understating and loving the Church, one and undivided though in the richness of her different traditions,” the Pontiff said. Remi Brague, he continued, "is a great scholar of the philosophy of religions, in particular that of Judaism and Islam in the Middle Ages.

Both scholars, the Pope said, are “exemplary figures for the transmission of a knowledge with brings together science and wisdom, academic rigor and a passion for man, that he may discover the art of living.”

 

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Further information:

• Ratzinger Prize: Ecumenism and Relations with Other Religions (VIS)
• 'Ratzinger Prize' awards to American theologian, French historian (CWN, 9/28)