Highlights from the cultural world of Rome
Apart from the fact that you should think twice about coming to Rome in the Holy Year 2025, as even a city of millions can be overcrowded, the biggest mass events in St Peter's Square are expected on the following days: 8-9 Feb, 8-9 March, 5-6, 25-26 and 28-29 April, 1-4, 10-11 and 16-18 May, 7-8, 14-15 and 25-26 June, 28 July to 3 Aug, 26-27 Sept, 11-12 and 30-31 Oct (no guarantee).
The Italian Association of Professors of Church History invites you to a conference on Christophobia from a historical perspective on 16-18 January 2025. The phenomenon of Christophobia is now so widespread that it is also being recognised by the media.
The Pontifical Commission for Sacred Archaeology is organising the 7th Open Catacombs Day in Rome and throughout Italy. In addition to guided tours, the programme also includes events for children.
To mark the 100th anniversary of the Pontifical Institute of Christian Archaeology 1925-2025, the Vatican and Luxembourg Post Office are planning a stamp in honour of the founding rector, the Luxembourger Johann Peter Kirsch (1861-1941). In a short video clip, Dr Isabelle Mossong gives a preview for POST Luxembourg (from minute 24:24). Kirsch is buried on the Campo Santo Teutonico.
The ceremonial opening of the 2024/25 academic year of the Pontifical Institute of Christian Archaeology will take place in this year at Campo Santo Teutonico inside the Vatican.
As part of the Ratzinger Student Circle, Stefan Heid will talk about historical aspects of the Holy Years, in particular about Pope Boniface VIII (1294-1303), who proclaimed the first Holy Year in Church history on 22 February 1300. In particular, he will focus on the power of the keys (Mt 16:19), as it has also appeared in papal imagery since this time (hence the lecture with pictures). The conference will be transmitted by TV und Radio .
In Fernblick-magazine, Thomas Zecher has published an engaging review of the Rome study trip organised by ‘Theologie im Fernkurs’ (Würzburg) in February of this year: ‘Zu den Quellen - Einmal richtig eintauchen’. It is about impressions, experiences, learning stations and hidden gems. Several members of the RIGG contributed to the study week with help and advice.
The annual introductory course in Christian Archaeology at the Pontifical Institute for Christian Archaeology takes place on the occasion of the Holy Year in both Italian and English and has a special theme: ‘Archeologia del pellegrinaggio / The Archaeology of Pilgrimage’. The course runs from November to March/April.
The Pontifical Institute for Christian Archaeology (PIAC) has published its study programme for the 2024/25 academic year. It includes the study conditions, scholarship opportunities and a chronicle of the past year. The PIAC will be celebrating its 100th anniversary next year. A number of activities are planned or have already been realised, such as the very illustrative booklet Cento Anni del Pontificio Istituto di Archeologia Cristiana.
You would think that there would be something new under the blazing sun of Rome worth getting up for. This is not the case. What hasn't been written about the tennis court and swimming pool of the sporty John Paul II! Only notoriously unathletic pontiffs are spared such attacks of envy.
Römisches Institut der Görres-Gesellschaft
