Today, April 16th, would have marked Benedict XVI’s 99th birthday. Looking ahead to what would have been the late Pope’s 100th birthday next year, the Joseph Ratzinger–Benedict XVI Vatican Foundation announces a year of initiatives to commemorate him.
By Vatican News staff reporter A broad international program of initiatives is underway to celebrate the centenary of the birth of Pope Benedict XVI, which will fall on April 16, 2027. More than ten events are planned throughout 2026, spread across four continents, with the aim of commemorating and exploring the figure and thought of Joseph Ratzinger. The initiatives, launched by the Vatican Foundation named after him, are coordinated by an International Committee for the Centenary Celebrations established within the Foundation itself. Events are scheduled in Austria, France, Italy, Spain, Hungary, India, Colombia, the United States, and Kenya. "The centenary of Ratzinger's birth," says Father Roberto Regoli, president of the Ratzinger Foundation and the Centenary Committee, "is an opportunity to fully present his thought and his approach to reality, as significant contributions to the current ecclesial and cultural debate. His legacy concerns the interpretation of the Second Vatican Council, the personal experience of Christ, which becomes the key to all branches of theology, and reasonableness as the criterion underlying human reflection on reality." On April 16, the opening day of the centenary, the presentation of the fourth volume of Selected Texts of Joseph Ratzinger-Benedict XVI, titled "The Faith of the Future. The Future of the Church," published by Cantagalli, will take place at the Italian Embassy to the Holy See in Rome. The 2026 events will conclude with the Foundation's annual International Symposium, scheduled for November 18-21 at Tangaza University in Nairobi, Kenya, on the theme: "Constellations of Hope: Africa and the Renewal of the Church in the Vision of Benedict XVI." The Symposium will be held in collaboration with Saint Mary's University in Minnesota, marking the 40th anniversary of Tangaza University. Finally, the Ratzinger Prize award ceremony will be held in December 2026. The dates for the 2027 events will be announced later. Program of initiatives in 2026 (in chronological order) Italy Rome, April 16, Italian Embassy to the Holy See. On the occasion of the opening of the Centenary, presentation of the fourth volume of the "Selected Texts" by Joseph Ratzinger-Benedict XVI, entitled The Faith of the Future. The Future of the Church (Cantagalli, 2026). Austria Heiligenkreuz (Vienna), March 11-May 20, Benedict XVI University of Philosophy and Theology: series of lectures by Rev. Hermann Geißler FSO, entitled "Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger as Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith." Italy Gemonio (Como), June 23, Church of San Pietro (7th century): Conference "Joseph Ratzinger-Benedict XVI: Legacy and Relevance One Hundred Years After His Birth," in collaboration with the Diocese of Como and the Municipality of Gemonio. India Bangalore, 10-11 July, Catholic Bishops' Conference of India, Bishops–Theologians Colloquium on the theme: “A Rereading of the Theological Journey of Joseph Ratzinger”. Hungary Budapest, September 10, Péter Pàzmàny Catholic University: Study Day on the occasion of the presentation of the third volume of Joseph Ratzinger's Complete Works in Hungarian: The God of Faith and the God of Philosophers. Philosophical Reason – Culture – Europe – Society. Colombia Bogotá, September 24-26, Universidad de La Sabana, Ratzinger Research Center: International Conference "For the Centenary of Joseph Ratzinger: Paths of Faith, Hope, and Charity." France Paris, October 14, Collège des Bernardins, Académie Catholique de France, Institut de France, Revue "Communio," KTO: International Symposium "The Major Lectures of Joseph Ratzinger-Benedict XVI in France" (provisional title). Austria Vienna, October 22-24, University of Vienna and University of Augsburg: International Symposium "Joseph Ratzinger's Theology in Widerstreit. Openness – Writing – Tradition: Fundamental Principles of Catholic Theology." Spain Almeria, October 28-30, International Conference "The Beauty of the Liturgy" and unveiling of a statue dedicated to Benedict XVI. United States Minneapolis, November 3, Saint Mary's University of Minnesota: Presentation of Volume 6 of the Collected Works of Joseph Ratzinger: Jesus of Nazareth, in collaboration with "Word on Fire Academic" and the University's Benedict XVI Chair. Diocese of Winona-Rochester, November 4-6, Annual Conference of The New Ressourcement on the theme: "Joseph Ratzinger and His Sources," in collaboration with Word on Fire Academic and Saint Mary's University. Kenya Nairobi, Kenya, November 18-21, Tangaza University: Annual International Symposium of the Foundation, in collaboration with Tangaza University and Saint Mary's University of Minnesota, on the theme: "Constellations of Hope: Africa and the Renewal of the Church in the Vision of Benedict XVI." Vatican City December (date to be determined): 2026 Ratzinger Prize Award Ceremony. (D.C.L.)