Establishment of Joseph Ratzinger/Pope Benedict XVI Foundation announced

From ZENIT:

CASTEL GANDOLFO, Italy, SEPT. 1, 2008 (Zenit.org).- A foundation devoted to the promotion of the thought of Benedict XVI will be launched this fall in Munich.

The news was announced this weekend at the annual meeting of the “Ratzinger Schülerkreis” (Ratzinger’s Circle of Students), composed of the Pope's former doctoral and postdoctoral students. The gathering, held at Castel Gandolfo, ended today.

According to a press release sent out by Divine Word Missionary Father Vincent Twomey, a member of the circle, this was the 30th meeting of the Schülerkreis since it was set up after then professor Joseph Ratzinger was named archbishop of Munich and elevated to cardinal in 1977. Some 40 former students were present.

The final details of the newly established Joseph Ratzinger/Pope Benedict XVI Foundation were approved at the plenary sessions, held under the chair of Cardinal Christoph Schönborn, the archbishop of Vienna. The foundation will be publicly launched Nov. 12 in Munich

The press statement explained that the foundation is devoted to "the promotion of theology in the spirit of Joseph Ratzinger."

"The board of trustees," it added, "whose members include former students from Germany, Portugal, Ireland, Benin, and the United States, reflects the international character of the Schülerkreis and the international scope of the foundation’s outreach."

Read the entire piece.

Further info from Catholic News Service, with comments from Fr. Joseph Fessio, S.J.

Related IgnatiusInsight.com Articles and Excerpts:              
• Author Page for Joseph Ratzinger/Pope Benedict XVI
• The Theological Genius of Joseph Ratzinger | An Interview with Fr. D. Vincent Twomey, S.V.D.
• The Courage To Be Imperfect | The Introduction to Pope Benedict XVI: The Conscience of Our Age (A Theological Portrait) | D. Vincent Twomey, S.V.D.