Benedict XVI’s Legacy: Encountering Culture Conference

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‘Today more than ever, reciprocal openness between the cultures is a privileged context for dialogue between people committed to seeking an authentic humanism, over and above the divergences that separate them. In the cultural arena too, Christianity must offer to all a most powerful force of renewal and exaltation, that is, the Love of God who makes himself human love.’ – Benedict XVI

In celebration of the life and theological achievements of the late Benedict XVI, The University of Notre Dame Australia’s School of Philosophy and Theology and the Benedict XVI Centre for Religion and Society are pleased to announce an international conference exploring Benedict XVI’s Legacy: Encountering Culture to be held in Sydney in January 2024.

Joseph Ratzinger’s intellectual life was characterised by constant engagement with issues of culture – with its definition, and its theological implications and manifestations. As Pope (Em.) Benedict XVI, this commitment continued. This conference aims to explore his responses to theoretical and practical issues of culture.

Date: 11-13 January 2024
Venue: The University of Notre Dame Australia – Broadway Campus, Sydney
Cost:

  • $125 early bird (limited tickets)
  • $150 late registration

Register your interest

Keynote speakers

Meet our confirmed keynote speakers:

  • Professor Tracey Rowland, “The Humanism of the Incarnation: from Rademacher to Ratzinger”
  • Professor Stephen Bullivant, “A Tale of Three Benedicts: A Pope, a Saint, and an Option”
  • Professor Jacob Phillips, St. Mary’s University Twickenham

Conference programme

The conference programme will be updated closer to the date of the conference.

Thursday 11 January 2024  - Evening
Meet and greet keynote speakers

Friday 12 January 2024
9:00am - 5:00pm: Conference - Day 1

Saturday 13 January 2024
9:00am - 5:00pm: Conference - Day 2

  • Ratzinger in the World of German Letters

    Papers invited that address Ratzinger’s responses to the following:

    • The German theology of late scholasticism
    • The confrontation with Luther
    • Philosophies of the eighteenth century
    • Romantic movement of the nineteenth century, with special attention to responses to Nietzsche (including from the Tübingen Catholic theologians)
    • Bismarck’s Kulturkamp
    • Fascism
    • Frankfurt School Social Theory
    • Political Philosophy of the German Christian Democrats

  • Ratzinger’s ongoing relevance to society and culture

    Papers invited that address Ratzinger’s theological legacy, including:

    • New evangelization (inc. ‘little flocks’, ‘creative minorities’)
    • Dialogue with other religions, ‘courtyard of the gentiles’
    • Music and the arts
    • Religion in the public square
    • Literature
    • Internet and new media (‘digital continent’)