The prestigious Ratzinger Prize was awarded to University of Notre Dame theologian Cyril O’Regan and Japanese sculptor Etsurō Sotoo at a ceremony held at the Vatican on Friday evening. The prize, established in honour of the late Pope Benedict XVI, is awarded annually by the Joseph Ratzinger-Benedict XVI Vatican Foundation to distinguished scholars and artists who have made significant contributions to theology, philosophy, and the arts.
Before the ceremony, O’Regan and Sotoo participated in a Mass celebrated by Archbishop Georg Gänswein in the Vatican crypts, near the tomb of Pope Benedict XVI. They also had the opportunity to meet with Pope Francis in his study at the Apostolic Palace. O’Regan, a systematic theologian specializing in the thought of 19th- and 20th-century Catholics, is the first Irishman to receive the coveted prize. Born in Ireland in 1952, O’Regan has taught at the University of Notre Dame since 1999 and has earned doctorates in both theology and philosophy from Yale University.
In his acceptance speech, O’Regan expressed his gratitude and humility, describing the prize as “more gift than desert.” The other 2024 Ratzinger Prize winner, Etsurō Sotoo, is a renowned Japanese sculptor whose work can be found in notable locations such as the Sagrada Família Basilica in Barcelona, Spain. Sotoo has been responsible for approximately 500 sculptures at the basilica, which has been under construction since 1882. He has also created the ambo at the Santa Maria del Fiore Cathedral in Florence, Italy.
The Ratzinger Prize has been awarded since 2011 to scholars and artists who have made significant contributions to their fields. Past winners include notable theologians, philosophers, and artists who have enriched the Catholic intellectual tradition.