This morning, in the Vatican Apostolic Palace, the Holy Father Leo XIV received in audience the community of the Pontifical Teutonic College of Santa Maria in Campo Santo, on the 150th anniversary of its foundation.
The following is the address delivered by the Pope to those present at the meeting:
Address of the Holy Father
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Peace be with you!
Your Excellencies,
Reverend Monsignor Rector,
dear priests of the College,
dear members of the Archconfraternity,
dear sisters and brothers,
I am pleased to meet you on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the foundation of your College and I extend a warm welcome to you all. The origins of the Campo Santo as a key point of reference for pilgrims travelling to Rome from the territory of the Holy Roman Empire date back to the eighth century. In the nineteenth century, this place took on particular importance for priests from their respective countries, when the work of the clergy had been significantly hindered, if not rendered entirely impossible, due to the ecclesiastical policies of the Kulturkampf in the German Empire. Thus, thanks to the hospitality of the Archconfraternity of the Teutonic Campo Santo, it became a place of refuge and study for priests from the German-speaking world, and went on to developing increasingly into an important centre for Christian archaeology, Church history and research into Christian origins. You can all look back with gratitude on the rich fruits of this history.
Even today, the Priestly College aims to be a safe place of formation, where the seminarians living here can further their intellectual and spiritual journey, so that they may then respond to the questions of people in their homeland in the face of the great challenges of our time and give an account of the hope that is within us (cf. 1 Pet 3:15).
A distinctive feature of your College is its unique proximity to the tomb of Saint Peter the Apostle, which, throughout the history of this institution, right from its very beginnings, has gone hand in hand with faithful adherence to the Roman Pontiff. This is reflected in the title of “Pontifical College”, which Pope Benedict XVI conferred upon it in 2010. This honour also entails a commitment: to preserve this closeness and this unity with the Successor of Peter and with the Faith of the Apostles which he proclaims.
This one Faith in Christ is the principle of unity amongst the faithful, for which the Lord prayed for his disciples, since it constitutes an essential element for the credibility of our witness (cf. Jn 17:20–21). Make this heartfelt plea of Jesus your own; ask for this gift, so that the community of your College may be a place where such unity can be concretely practised and made visible.
To this end, I ask the Holy Spirit to assist you. I entrust you and your College, together with the Archconfraternity and the Görres Society in Rome, to your patroness, Saint Mary of Piety, and I bless you all most cordially. Thank you.
