American theologian to receive the 2026 Ratzinger Prize

By Daniele Piccini

This year’s Ratzinger Prize has been awarded to Dr John C. Cavadini, Professor of Theology at the University of Notre Dame (Indiana, USA), a scholar dedicated to patristic studies and, in particular, to deepening the understanding of the thought of Saint Augustine.

The recipient was selected by the Scientific Committee of the “Joseph Ratzinger-Benedict XVI Vatican Foundation” and approved by Pope Leo XIV, who will personally present the award in the Apostolic Palace on December 19.

Expressing his gratitude for the award, Dr Cavadini said, “I have sought to live out my vocation as a theologian following the model of Origen of Alexandria—a third-century theologian who repeatedly declared his desire to be a vir ecclesiasticus, a man of the Church. At Notre Dame, I have been able to live my vocation as both a man of the Church and a man of the academy. I am particularly grateful for this award because it recognizes these two aspects of my vocation as a theologian.”

From Patristics to Contemporary Theology

Dr Cavadini’s interests extend to contemporary theology as well. Highlighting his dual commitment to the academic and pastoral spheres, Fr Roberto Regoli, the President of the Foundation, explained, “The American professor is an expert above all on the Church Fathers, especially Saint Augustine, but he has also engaged with the theology of our own time. He has written extensively on Benedict XVI and the theology of Francis. He is a scholar who has addressed the theology of the Church from antiquity through to the 21st century. At Notre Dame, he directed the McGrath Institute for Church Life and dedicated himself to fostering theological life and faith in the United States and abroad. He is a person deeply committed both intellectually and pastorally.”

Dr Cavadini is the 32nd scholar to receive the Ratzinger Prize, which has been awarded since 2011 in recognition of scholarly achievements in fields such as dogmatic or fundamental theology, Sacred Scripture, patrology, philosophy, law, sociology, or in the arts—including music, architecture, and sculpture.

Three conferences on Joseph Ratzinger to be held in the US and Africa this November

This coming year, 2027, marks the centenary of the birth of Joseph Ratzinger, who was born in Marktl, Germany, on 16 April 1927. In preparation for the celebrations marking this anniversary—which began as early as April of this year—the Foundation is organizing three conferences.

The first will be an international symposium held from November 2-4 in the United States at Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota, entitled “Beauty Will Save Us: Wonder and Hope in the Works of Joseph Ratzinger-Benedict XVI.” “This conference revisits an insight of Benedict XVI that has proven decisive over the years: the danger of a rift between technical capabilities and moral energy,” said Professor Pierluca Azzaro, the Foundation’s executive secretary.

He continued, “We have observed that many American universities—and many scientists at the most prestigious American universities—are keenly aware of this disconnect and believe it is necessary to reclaim Benedict XVI’s key insights regarding the nature and mission of the university. That is, to overcome the fragmentation of knowledge and to come together—faculty and students alike—in a shared pursuit of truth, acting as a single team or the crew of a single ship, ensuring it does not lose its course.”

The second conference, scheduled for November 4–6, 2026, is sponsored by the Diocese of Winona-Rochester (Minnesota) in collaboration with the “Word on Fire” publishing group, and will examine the theme “Joseph Ratzinger and His Sources.”

The third symposium dedicated to the figure of Benedict XVI will take place from November 18-21, 2026, in Nairobi, Kenya. It is co-sponsored by Tangaza University and Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota and is titled “Constellations of Hope: Africa and the Renewal of the Church in the Vision of Benedict XVI.” “Pope Ratzinger,” Professor Azzaro continued, “was convinced that Africa—with all its problems and difficulties—possessed a reservoir of moral energy and embodied a model of the Church that could serve as a remedy for a new flourishing of the Church and society in the West. We, too, deeply believe in this perspective.”

Concerts and a Mass at St Peter’s for the centenary

Finally, in 2027, a major conference organized by the Foundation will be held in Rome to mark the centenary of Joseph Ratzinger’s birth. It will primarily involve the Pontifical Gregorian University, but will also feature the participation of the Pontifical University of St Thomas Aquinas (the Angelicum), LUMSA (Libera Università Maria Santissima Assunta), and the Catholic University.

“We also want to highlight those interests of Benedict XVI that extend beyond theology—such as musical initiatives,” concluded Professor Azzaro. “Next year will be a year of major concerts and significant liturgical celebrations. On April 16, the day marking the centenary of Benedict XVI’s birth, a grand Mass will be held in St Peter’s Basilica.”