Römisches Institut der Görres-Gesellschaft
150 years of the Pontifical German College in the Vatican
The three-day gathering of 80 former Camposanto students, 10 members of the commemorative publication team and other guests unfolded with great dynamism and excitement: Prof. Dr Rainald Becker, a church historian from Augsburg; Dr Manfred Lütz, a psychiatrist from Cologne; and Prof. Dr Peter Schallenberg, a social ethicist from the Catholic Theological Faculty in Paderborn, drew many bursts of laughter from the treasure trove of their memories (mostly of Erwin Gatz) during an initial round of discussions, whilst at the same time outlining how, during the pontificate of the American Pope Leo, the college might orient itself within the broader context of the Church.
Camerlengo Franco Reale and Dr Albrecht Weiland then set out their vision for a revitalised Campo Santo with a scaled-down college. Subsequently, Bishop Dr Andrej Saje, President of the Slovenian Bishops’ Conference, Monsignor Dr Josef Gehr, representative of the Dicastery for the Clergy, and Ambassador Dr Bruno Kahl each expressed their hopes for the college. In unison, they expressed the hope that the College would continue to be the ecclesiastical and intellectual heart of the Campo Santo, whilst at the same time avoiding a narrow national focus and, rather, paying particular attention to Central Europe.
At the evening reception hosted by Dr Kahl at the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany to the Holy See, Dr Ignacio García Lascurain Bernstorff gave a brilliant presentation introducing the commemorative volume *Das Deutsche Kolleg im Vatikan* (The German College in the Vatican), which can, in a sense, also be regarded as a gift from the Görres Institute to the College. Ambassador Kahl chaired the subsequent discussion and took a particular interest in the Campo Santo as a place of espionage, for which there are indeed numerous historical links. This was followed by a magnificent reception in the residence and gardens.
The following day was marked by the private audience with Pope Leo XIV in the Sala del Concistoro in the terza loggia of the Apostolic Palace. After the group photograph in front of the audience hall at the Campo Santo, the procession made its way past the basilica to the Courtyard of Damasus and from there into the hall. The Pope paid tribute to the College as a place of refuge and study and then gave each individual the opportunity to step forward.
The subsequent coach trip to the papal palace at Castelgandolfo, the stroll through the extensive gardens in glorious autumn sunshine, and the relaxed evening banquet in Frattocchie brought the day to a perfect close.
On Sunday, the Campo Santo church was packed to bursting point for High Mass with Bishop Dr Bertram Meier (Augsburg). Bishop Meier not only preached on ‘Strength, Love and Prudence’, but also referred to the commemorative publication *Das deutsche Kolleg im Vatikan* (The German College in the Vatican), which, like a kaleidoscope, portrays priests from the college who carried out their ministry with passionate devotion to the Church and intellectual commitment.
The plan is to organise a small gathering of former Campo Santo students every 21 November – the college’s foundation day (1876) – and in this way to establish a circle of alumni and friends.
- Details
- Written by: Stefan Heid
- Category: Roman notes