Students of Benedict XVI to discuss theology of the cross at encounter

Last updated on: August 13, 2014 at 6:03 am by CNA Daily News

Students of Benedict XVI to discuss theology of the cross at encounter 2014-08-13T06:03:00+00:00 CNA Daily News

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Rome, Italy, Aug 13, 2014 / 12:03 am (CNA/EWTN News).- The annual meeting of Benedict XVI's students from his time at the University of Regensburg will gather next week to discuss the theology of the cross, a member of the circle has said.

The Ratzinger “Schuelerkreis,” or “students' circle,” has met to discuss topics in theology and the life of the Church since 1978, when their professor was pulled from academia to become a bishop.

This year's encounter will be held at Castel Gandolfo Aug. 21-24.

“As usual, the members of the Schuelerkreis presented Benedict with three possible issues to be discussed, and Benedict chose one from among them,” Fr. Stephan Horn told CNA Aug. 11.

Fr. Horn, a Salvatorian, was Ratzinger's academic assistant at the University of Regensburg from 1971 to 1977, and is now organizer of the annual Schuelerkreis meeting.

He related that after choosing the general topic of the theology of the cross, Benedict “gave total freedom to the general relator for the development of the topic.”

This year's general relator is Karl-Heinz Menke, “a German theologian whom Benedict esteems greatly.”

Menke teaches dogmatic theology at the University of Bonn. The author of several papers in christology, the theology of the cross, and dogmatics, Menke gained prominence when, in 2011, Ratzinger quoted from his “Jesus Gott der Sohn” (Jesus, God the Son) in the second volume of “Jesus of Nazareth.”

The idea for the annual meeting arose in 1977, when Ratzinger was appointed Archbishop of Munich and Freising, and when he moved to Rome in 1981 to take up the post of prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, it continued.

When in the spring of 2005, Cardinal Ratzinger was elected Bishop of Rome, his former students thought their annual tradition would stop, but were proved wrong, when Benedict continued to meet with his former students.

“He always took part in our meetings, even when he had been elected Pope,” Fr. Horn explained. “But after his resignation, Benedict has always chosen to remain at his enclosure.”

While he no longer attends the Castel Gandolfo meeting, Benedict does say Mass at the Vatican for his schuelerkreis following their encounter.

“As he did the last year, Benedict will say the concluding Mass of the schuelerkreis,” Fr. Horn said.

The topic of the meeting varies each year; last year was the question of God amid secularism, and the year prior to that, ecumenism was the subject chosen.

The Ratzinger schuelerkreis is formed by about 50 people who studied for their doctorates under Ratzinger, but usually between 25 and 30 are able to make it to any given year's meeting.

The circle has enlarged in recent years, establishing a “youth branch” composed of academics who had not studied with Ratzinger, yet who are studying and developing upon his theological work.

Europe

Previous Post

August 12, 2014

Knights of Columbus will match donations to aid persecuted Iraqis

Next Post

August 13, 2014 Franciscans determined to keep Christianity in Holy Land

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Americas Asia - Pacific Europe Middle East - Africa Uncategorized US Vatican

Select a Month November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

I will come like a thief in the night when people say 'peace and safety.' Sudden destruction will come. What am I?

Select your answer to see how you score.

The day of the Lord The end times Judgment day The second coming