American theologian John C. Cavadini, Ratzinger Prize 2026

The Ratzinger Prize returns to the United States. The winner of the 2026 edition is John C. Cavadini, Professor of Theology at the University of Notre Dame (Indiana), where he has also served as Director of the McGrath Institute for Church Life. 

The award will be presented by Pope Leo XIV on December 19, 2026, at the Apostolic Palace in the Vatican, the Holy See has announced. According to the Foundation, Cavadini teaches, conducts research, and publishes in the field of patristic theology, with a particular focus on the theology of St. Augustine. 

Academic competence and ecclesial service

The president of the Vatican Foundation Joseph Ratzinger – Benedict XVI, Professor Roberto Regoli has declared: “Professor Cavadini is highly regarded for the seriousness of his theological publications, his commitment and zeal in university teaching, his academic competence, his pastoral passion and his lifelong ecclesial service.”.

Cavadini: following the model of Origen of Alexandria

For his part, the professor Cavadini He commented: “I have tried to live my vocation as a theologian following the model of Origen of Alexandria, a third-century theologian, who repeatedly declared that he wanted to be, as a theologian, a vir ecclesiasticus, a man of the Church.”.

“At Notre Dame I have been able to live out my vocation as a man of the Church and, at the same time, as a man of academia,” he added. “I am especially grateful for this award because it recognizes these two aspects of my vocation as a theologian.”.

32 award winners so far

The Prize has been awarded annually since 2011. With the 2026 edition, the total number of awardees reaches 32. They are mainly prominent figures in the studies of dogmatic or fundamental Theology, Sacred Scripture, Patrology, Philosophy, Law, Sociology, or in the artistic field, music, architecture and sculpture.

The award-winning personalities come from 18 different countries across five continents: Germany (7), France (4), Spain (3), Italy (3), United States (2), Australia, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Canada, Estonia, Japan, Great Britain, Greece, Ireland, Lebanon, Poland, South Africa and Switzerland.

The award winners are not only Catholic, but also belong to other Christian denominations — one Anglican, one Lutheran and two Orthodox — and one is Jewish.

Ricardo Mutti in 2025

The Ratzinger Prize 2025 was awarded to Maestro Riccardo Mutti, and the ceremony took place on December 12th in the Paul VI Audience Hall at the Vatican City, at the end of the Concert in his honor. in the presence of the Holy Father, on the occasion of Christmas.

“I greet Maestro Riccardo Muti, who today is being awarded the Ratzinger Prize, in recognition of a life entirely devoted to music, a place of discipline and revelation,» said Pope Leo XIV. The Pontiff emphasized that “Pope Benedict XVI liked to recall that “true beauty wounds, opens the heart, expands it,” and in music he sought the voice of God in the universe.”.

Cyril O'Regan and Etsurō Sotoo in 2024 

In 2024, the awardees were Professor Cyril O'Regan, Professor of Theology at the University of Notre Dame (United States), and the teacher Etsuro Sotoo, head of sculptors of the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, the great project of Antoni Gaudi, which Pope Leo XIV visited on his trip to Spain.

In 2023, the award winners were Pablo Blanco, Professor of Theology at the University of Navarra, and specialist in the work of Joseph Ratzinger/Benedict XVI, and the philosopher and theologian Francesc Torralba.

Towards the centenary: three congresses in the United States and Africa

Numerous activities are planned to mark the centenary of the birth of Joseph Ratzinger – Benedict XVI, which will take place on April 16, 2027. He was born on April 16, 1927, in Marktl am Inn (Bavaria, Germany).

In November, three international initiatives are scheduled in which the Foundation is directly involved:

– November 2-4, in the United States, at Saint Mary's University in Minnesota, the international symposium titled: “Beauty will Save Us: Wonder and Hope in the Works of Joseph Ratzinger/Benedict XVI.”.

– November 4-6, Organized by the Diocese of Winona-Rochester and in collaboration with the publishing group “Word on Fire”, it will take place on annual congress “The New Ressourcement», titled: «Joseph Ratzinger and his sources”.

– November 18-21 will take place in Nairobi (Kenya), in collaboration with Tangaza University and Saint Mary's University of Minnesota, the symposium “Constellations of Hope: Africa and the Renewal of the Church in the Vision of Benedict XVI.”.

Counteracting the distortions of humanity today

“The major international congresses of 2026 highlight Africa and the United States: two continents that can contribute equally decisively to counteracting the distortions of humanity today, as Pope Leo XIV reminds us, following in the footsteps of his predecessors,” commented Professor Pierluca Azzaro, Executive Secretary of the Vatican Foundation Joseph Ratzinger – Benedict XVI.