Centenary of Benedict XVI, initiatives to commemorate Pope Ratzinger
Vatican City, 14 April 2026 – An extensive international programme of initiatives is being launched to celebrate the centenary of the birth of Pope Benedict XVI, which will take place on 16 April 2027. More than ten events are planned throughout 2026, spread across four continents, with the aim of commemorating and exploring the life and thought of Joseph Ratzinger.
The initiatives, launched by the Vatican Foundation in his name, are being organized under the coordination of an International Committee for the Centenary Celebrations established within the Foundation itself. Events are planned in Europe (Austria, France, Italy, Spain, Hungary), Asia (India), Latin America (Colombia), North America (United States) and Africa (Kenya).
“The centenary of Ratzinger’s birth”, states Fr. Roberto Regoli, president of the Ratzinger Foundation and of the Centenary Committee, “is an opportunity to present his thought and his method of approaching reality in their entirety, as significant contributions to the current ecclesial and cultural debate. His legacy concerns the way of interpreting the Second Vatican Council, the personal experience of Christ, which becomes the key to accessing all branches of theology, and reasonableness as the criterion underlying human reflection on reality”.
On 16 April, the opening day of the centenary, in Rome, in the Italian Embassy to the Holy See in Rome will host the launch of the fourth volume of *Selected Writings of Joseph Ratzinger-Benedict XVI*, entitled La fede del futuro. Il futuro della Chiesa (The Faith of the Future. The Future of the Church), published by Cantagalli.
The events of 2026 will conclude with the Foundation’s annual International Symposium, scheduled to take place at Tangaza University in Nairobi (Kenya) from 18 to 21 November, on the theme: “Constellations of Hope: Africa and the Renewal of the Church in the Vision of Benedict XVI”. The Symposium will take place in collaboration with Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota, to mark the 40th anniversary of Tangaza University.
Finally, in December 2026, the Ratzinger Prize award ceremony will be held.
The dates of the events of 2027 will be communicated in due course.
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Programme of initiatives in 2026 (in chronological order)
Italy
Rome, 16 April, Italian Embassy to the Holy See. On the occasion of the opening of the Centenary, presentation of Volume 4 of the “Selected Texts” of Joseph Ratzinger-Benedict XVI, entitled La fede del futuro. Il futuro della Chiesta (The Faith of the Future. The Future of the Church) (Cantagalli, 2026).
Austria
Heiligenkreuz (Vienna), 11 March-20 May, Philosophisch-theologische Hochschule “Benedikt XVI”: series of lectures by Rev. Hermann Geißler FSO, entitled “Kardinal Joseph Ratzinger als Präfekt der Glaubenskongregation”.
Italy
Gemonio (Como), 23 June, Church of Saint Peter (seventh century): Conference “Joseph Ratzinger-Benedetto XVI: Relevance 100 Years After His Birth”, in collaboration with the diocese of Como and the municipality of Gemonio.
India
Bangalore, 10-11 July, Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India, Bishops–Theologians Colloquium on the theme: “A Rereading of the Theological Journey of Joseph Ratzinger”.
Hungary
Budapest, 10 September, Péter Pàzmàny Catholic University: Study day to mark the presentation of Volume 3 of Joseph Ratzinger’s Collected Works in Hungarian: The God of Faith and the God of Philosophers. Philosophical Reason – Culture – Europe – Society.
Colombia
Bogotà, 24-26 September, Universidad de La Sabana, Ratzinger Research Center: International Conference “For the centenary of Joseph Ratzinger: paths of faith, hope and charity”.
France
Paris, 14 October, Collège des Bernardins, Académie Catholique de France, Institut de France, Revue “Communio”, KTO: International Symposium “The principal lectures of Joseph Ratzinger-Benedetto XVI in France” (provisional title).
Austria
Vienna, 22-24 October, University of Vienna and University of Augsburg: International Symposium “Joseph Ratzingers Theologie im Widerstreit. Offenbarung – Schrift – Tradition: Grundprinzipien katholischer Theologie”.
Spain
Almeria, 28-30 October, International Conference “The beauty of the liturgy” and inauguration of a statue dedicated to Benedict XVI.
United States
Minneapolis, 3 November, Saint Mary’s University del Minnesota: presentation of Volume 6 of the Collected Works of Joseph Ratzinger: Jesus of Nazareth, in collaboration with “Word on Fire Academic” and the “Benedict XVI Chair” of the University..
Diocese of Winona-Rochester, 4-6 November, Annual Conference of The New Ressourcement on the theme: “Joseph Ratzinger and his sources”, in collaboration with “Word on Fire Academic” and Saint Mary’s University.
Kenya
Nairobi (Kenya), 18-21 November, Tangaza University: annual International Symposium of the Foundation, in collaboration with Tangaza University and Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota, on the theme “Constellations of Hope: Africa and the Renewal of the Church in the Vision of Benedict XVI”.
Vatican City
December (date to be confirmed): award ceremony for the 2026 Ratzinger Prize.
