Cardinal Pietro Parolin addressed the guests and awardees at the 2024 Ratzinger Prize ceremony and recalled the legacy of Pope Benedict XVI, who encourages us to face the challenges of our times with faith and hope.
Vatican News
Vatican City Saturday, November 23, 2024 On November 22, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State of the Holy See, highlighted the enduring legacy of the work and testimony of Pope Benedict XVI during the 2024 Ratzinger Prize award ceremony in the Apostolic Palace.
This year’s winners are Irish theologian Cyril O’Regan and Japanese sculptor Atsuro Sotu.
Pope Benedict XVI: Voice of hope
At the end of the ceremony, the Vatican Secretary of State reflected on how the teachings of Pope Benedict XVI remind us to maintain faith and hope in the midst of the conflicts of modern times, marked by hatred and evil.
He recalled that the encyclical Spe Salvi of Pope Benedict XVI is “completely dedicated to hope: to human hope and to Christian hope” and that both, with the theology, sensitivity and humanitarian and Christian witness of the laureate Joseph Ratzinger, are made echo of those who dedicated their lives to “the search for truth in all its forms.”
award winner
In honor of Cyril O’Regan, an Irish theologian who teaches at the University of Notre Dame in the United States, Cardinal Parolin praised Pope Benedict for his deep reflection on humility and commitment to serving God through the tradition of the Church.
As for Japanese sculptor Atsuro Sotu, Cardinal Parolin said he is best known for his work on Barcelona’s Sagrada Familia cathedral, where he continues artist Gaudi’s vision of using art to communicate spiritual truth. The cardinal said he sees the cathedral as a “Bible in stone,” echoing Pope Benedict’s belief in the integration of beauty and faith.
Ratsingar’s universal heritage
Father Federico Lombardi, SJ, president of the Ratzinger Foundation, highlighted the growing global impact of Pope Benedict XVI’s work.
He said initiatives like the new “Benedict XVI Chair” at Saint Mary’s University in Minnesota demonstrate the lasting influence of his ideas across disciplines and cultures.
