Pontifical Biblical Institute

Pontifical Biblical Institute
Latin: Pontificium Institutum Biblicum
Founder(s)Pope Pius X
Established1909; 115 years ago (1909)
MissionBiblical and ancient Near Eastern Studies
FocusCatholic, Jesuit
RectorPeter Dubovský, S.J.
Location
Piazza della Pilotta
Rome, Italy
Coordinates41°53′56″N 12°29′01″E / 41.8988°N 12.4836°E / 41.8988; 12.4836
Websitebiblico.it
Biblical Institute, Rome
Biblical Institute, Jerusalem

The Pontifical Biblical Institute (also known as Biblicum) is a research and postgraduate teaching institution specialised in biblical and ancient Near Eastern studies. It is an institution of the Holy See entrusted to the Society of Jesus (Jesuits).

The Institute has been incorporated along with the Pontifical Oriental Institute into the Pontifical Gregorian University under a single rector, as of 19 May 2024, when new statutes of the Gregorian take effect.[1][2]

History

The Pontifical Biblical Institute was founded by Pope Pius X in the apostolic letter Vinea Electa in 1909 as a centre of advanced studies in Holy Scripture.[3] At first, the institute prepared students for exams at the Pontifical Biblical Commission. In 1916, it was licensed by Pope Benedict XV to grant academic degrees in the name of the commission. In 1928, it was licensed by Pope Pius XI to grant doctorates in affiliation with the Pontifical Gregorian University, independently of the commission.[4] In 1927, a branch was opened in Jerusalem by Alexis Mallon.[5] In 1932, the Oriental Faculty was founded.

In 1928 the Jerusalem branch received the mummy of Iret-hor-iru as a gift from Jesuits in Alexandria.[6]

Rectors

All of its rectors have been Jesuit priests. Cardinal Bea is particularly noteworthy for having defended the university against charges of Modernism before the Second Vatican Council.

  • Leopold Fonck (1909-1924)
  • John J. O'Rourke (1924-1930)
  • Augustin Bea (1930-1949)
  • Ernest Vogt (1949-1963)
  • Roderick A. MacKenzie (1963-1969)
  • Carlo Maria Martini (1969-1978)
  • Maurice Gilbert (1978-1984)
  • Albert Vanhoye (1984-1990)
  • Klemens Stock (1990-1996)
  • Robert F. O'Toole (1996-2002)
  • Stephen Pisano (2002-2008)
  • José María Abrego de Lacy (2008-2014)
  • Michael Kolarcik (2014-2023) [7]
  • Peter Dubovský (since 2023)

Alumni

Among the prominent alumni of the Biblicum, the following were elevated to the episcopate and/or the cardinalate:

See also

References

  1. ^ Gagliarducci, Andrea (19 March 2024). "Gregoriana, Pontificio Istituto Orientale e Biblico ora sono una sola cosa" (in Italian). ACI Stampa. Retrieved 20 March 2024.
  2. ^ Payne, Daniel (19 March 2024). "Pontifical Gregorian University Announces Merger With Biblical, Eastern Institutes". National Catholic Register. Catholic News Agency. Retrieved 20 March 2024.
  3. ^ "Biblicum from Vatican". Archived from the original on 2019-11-28. Retrieved 2017-10-09.
  4. ^ "History". www.biblico.it. Archived from the original on 2019-02-13. Retrieved 2017-10-09.
  5. ^ "House in Jerusalem". Archived from the original on 2016-01-19. Retrieved 2016-02-03.
  6. ^ Zion, Ilan Ben (26 July 2016). "Israel's only mummy gets afterlife spotlight at Israel Museum". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 23 December 2023.
  7. ^ "Catholic". Archived from the original on 2016-03-18. Retrieved 2016-02-03.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Pontifical Biblical Institute.
  • Apostolic Letter - Vinea Electa, Pope Pius X, 7 May 1909, Vatican website (Latin)
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