(ANS – Vatican City) – On Saturday, 10th November, the Holy Father, with the Motu Proprio "Latin language", established ad experimentum, for a five-year period, the "Pontificia Academia Latinitatis". The Salesian, Fr Roberto Spataro, was in turn appointed Secretary and also joining will be Prof. Ivano Dionysius, distinguished latinist and Rector of the University of Studies in Bologna, President of the Pontifical Academy of Latinitas.

With the establishment of the Academy, the Pope intends to promote the study and dissemination of the Latin language and culture within the Church. The Latin language, held in high esteem by the Catholic Church, seems to find little interest in contemporary culture causing "a generalised weakening of the humanities, the danger of an increasingly superficial knowledge of the Latin language, also found in the area of philosophical and theological studies of future priests," reads the text of the Motu Proprio.

"It therefore appears urgent to support the commitment to greater knowledge and a more competent use of the Latin language, both within the Church and in the broader world of culture - the Vatican text continues - To give emphasis and resonance to this effort, depends on the adoption of appropriate teaching methods adapted to new conditions and promotion of a network of Academic Institutions and relations between scholars in order to appreciate the rich and diverse heritage of Latin civilisation".

Fr Roberto Spataro, former Dean of the Salesian Theological Study at Ratisbonne – Jerusalem, is currently Professor of ancient Greek Christian literature at the Faculty of Christian and Classical Letters of the Pontifical Salesian University.

Published 12/11/2012