VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Honoring an Australian theologian, a French philosopher
and two German theologians, Pope Francis prayed that they may continually be
inspired by retired Pope Benedict XVI's episcopal motto, "Cooperatores
veritatis" -- co-workers in the truth.
During a midday meeting in the Clementine Hall of the Apostolic Palace Nov. 13,
Pope Francis awarded the Ratzinger Prize to Tracey Rowland, an Australian
theologian; French philosopher Jean-Luc Marion; and German theologians
Hanna-Barbara Gerl-Falkovitz and Ludger Schwienhorst-Schönberger.
After the ceremony, the four awardees visited Pope Benedict at his home in the
Mater Ecclesia monastery in the Vatican Gardens.
Rowland and Marion won the prize in 2020, but the ceremony was not held because
of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Ratzinger Prize recognizes theologians, specialists in sacred Scripture or
artists, scientists or philosophers who have enriched theological studies by
their work.
The pope chooses the winners from a short list of candidates recommended by a
five-person committee of the Joseph Ratzinger-Benedict XVI Foundation, which was
established in 2010 to support theological research and to promote studies on
the theology and teaching of the retired pope.
Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, president of the foundation, said the award is
not a recognition of a particular book or project, but considers "the long and
in-depth work" of the winners.
Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi, president of the Pontifical Council for Culture,
introduced Rowland's work, noting how, from the time of her doctoral
dissertation, "the presence of the thought of Joseph Ratzinger, alongside other
masters such as (Jesuit Father Henri) de Lubac and (Alasdair) MacIntyre, has
been significant."
"Her research has developed in fundamental theology and theological anthropology
along an itinerary of dialogue with culture, often presenting to the
contemporary world the Christianity of the Incarnation with originality," the
cardinal said. "Emblematic in this perspective are both her 'Guide for the
Perplexed,' whose title refers not only to Benedict XVI but also to the medieval
Jewish experience of dialogue proposed by Moses Maimonides, and 'Ratzinger's
Faith,'" a book on the theology of Pope Benedict.
"Tracey Rowland's research has constructed a significant portrait of Ratzinger
the theologian but also offered a significant look at the challenges facing the
church in post-conciliar theology and contemporary culture," Cardinal Ravasi
said.
Bestowing the awards, Pope Francis paid tribute to the gifts God has given the
scholars and to the way the scholars have developed those gifts.
"The dynamic of the human mind and spirit in knowing and creating is truly
boundless," he said. "This is the effect of the 'spark' ignited by God in the
person made in his image, capable of seeking and finding ever new meanings in
creation and history, and of continuing to express the vitality of the spirit in
shaping and transfiguring matter."
"But the fruits of research and art do not ripen by chance and without effort.
Recognition, therefore, goes at the same time to the prolonged and patient
effort that they require to reach maturity," he said. The scholars' dedication
"is an invaluable service for the elevation of the spirit and dignity of the
person, for the quality of relationships in the human community and for the
fruitfulness of the mission of the church."
Pope Francis noted how the winners had drawn on and built on the work of people
who had gone before them, educating "us to think in order to live our
relationship with God and with others ever more profoundly (and) to direct human
action with virtues and above all with love."
"Among these teachers there is a theologian who was able to open and nourish his
reflection and his cultural dialogue toward all these directions together,
because faith and the church live in our time and are friends of every search
for truth. I speak of Joseph Ratzinger," he said.
When Professor Joseph Ratzinger was named archbishop of Munich, Pope Francis
said, he chose his episcopal motto, "Cooperatores veritatis," from the Third
Letter of John.
The words "express the common thread of the different stages of his life, from
his studies to his academic teaching, to his episcopal ministry, to his service
for the doctrine of the faith -- to which he was called by St. John Paul II 40
years ago -- up to his pontificate, characterized by a luminous magisterium and
an unfailing love for the truth," Pope Francis said.
"'Cooperatores veritatis' is therefore also the motto that stands out on the
diploma given to the awardees, so that it may continue to inspire their
commitment," he said.