The Ratzinger Circle of Alumni is an initiative by former doctoral and post-doctoral students of theologian Joseph Ratzinger (later Pope Benedict XVI). The Alumni is composed by former students of the universities of Bonn 1959-1963, Münster 1963-1966, Tübingen 1966-1969 and Regensburg 1969-1977. The former students, most of them distinguished professors today, meet with their professor annually in order to discuss and study with their teacher important theological issues while celebrating their devotion to what they consider a special responsibility for the spiritual heritage of their teacher.
The first meeting took place in 1978 and is repeated annually. The long tradition was not interrupted during the Papacy of Ratzinger, despite his role and commitments. This initiative led the alumni to the creation of a foundation, the Joseph Ratzinger - Pope Benedict XVI foundation and later an award (often referred to the Nobel Prize for theology), given to theologians and philosophers every two years.
The 44 members of the Ratzinger Circle of Alumni are:
Prof. Barthélemy Adoukonou, Abidjan, Ivory CoastDr. Roman Angulanza, Salzburg, AustriaDr. Francine Cottage, Münster, GermanyProf. em. Wolfgang Beinert, Pentling, GermanyDr. P. Martin Bialas Č.p., Schwarzenfeld, GermanyDr. Catherine M. Bommes, Regensburg, GermanyProf. em. DDr. Werner Broker, Greven, GermanyProf. em. Dr. John Dormann, Bösensell, GermanyProf. Dr. P. P. Joseph Fessio, Ave Maria University, USAProf. Dr. Henrique de Noronha Galvão, Lisbon, PortugalProf. em. Dr. Hahn P.Viktor Czechoslovakia, CologneDr.Dr. Erich Heck, Cologne-Lindenthal, GermanyPastor I.R. Prelate Dr. Michael Hofmann, Fürth, GermanyProf. em. Dr. Stephen P. Horn SDS, parish churches and RomeRev. Dr. Werner Hülsenbusch, Münster, GermanyAuxiliary Bishop Hans-Jochen Jaschke, HamburgProf. Jung-Hi (Victoria) Kim, Gwangju, South KoreaCanon Hans Kümmeringer, Salzweg, GermanyProf. Dr. Dr. Peter Kuhn, Munich, GermanyDr. John P. Lehmann Dronke CRV, Weilheim, GermanySister Dr. Mechtild Linde, Rees, GermanySr. Maria Lugosi SSS, Kenmore, United StatesDr. Charles MacDonald, Nova Scotia, CanadaDr. Venicio Marcolino, Tübingen, GermanyDr. P. Michael John Marmann, Munich, GermanyPrelate Dr. Helmut Moll, Cologne, GermanyProf. em. Dr. Vincent Pfnür, Münster, GermanyL. Rev. Dr. Seamus Ryan, Dublin, IrelandFather Antoine Saroyan, Glendale, USAPrelate Emeritus Professor. Dr. Theo Schäfer, Niederzissen, GermanyPastor Udo M. Schiffer, King Winter Ittenbach, GermanySenior teacher Wolfram Schmidt, Kelheim, GermanyVicar General Hubert J.G.M. Schnackers, Roermond, The NetherlandsProf. Dr. P. Cardinal Christoph Schonborn OP, Vienna, AustriaRev. Fr Prof. Alex Thannippara CMI Bellampalli, IndiaProf. Dr. P. Réal Tremblay Rome, ItalyRev. Dr. Martin Trimpe, Lingen - Laxten, GermanyProf. em. P. Dr. Vincent Twomey SVD, Maynooth, IrelandProf. Dr. Hans Jürgen Verweyen, Merzhausen, GermanyDr. theol. hab. Louis Weimer, Bad Tolz, GermanyProf. em. Dr. Siegfried Wiedenhofer, Unterliederbach a. Ts., GermanyProf. em. Dr. Joseph Wohlmuth, Bonn, GermanySenior teacher a.e.H. Dr. Josef Zöhrer, GermanyDr. Cornelio Del Zotto, OFM, Rome, Italy