Audience with the community of the Pontifical Teutonic College on its 150th anniversary — 2026-10-03

All events of the day›2026-10-03›Audience with the community of the Pontifical Teutonic College on its 150th anniversary

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10:00

Oct

⛪ Audience

Audience with the community of the Pontifical Teutonic College on its 150th anniversary

📍 Hall of the Consistory, Apostolic Palace, Vatican

In the Hall of the Consistory, Pope Leo XIV receives the community of the Pontifical Teutonic College of St Mary in Campo Santo, on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of its founding. The Pope recalls that the origins of the Campo Santo as a reference point for pilgrims travelling to Rome from the territory of the Holy Roman Empire date back to the eighth century, and that in the nineteenth century the place became, thanks to the Archconfraternity of the Teutonic Campo Santo, a refuge and centre of study for German-speaking priests hindered by the Kulturkampf in the German Empire, later turning into an important centre for Christian archaeology and Church history. He stresses that the College today wants to be "a safe place of formation", and that its distinctive feature — the unique closeness to the tomb of St Peter, from which comes the title of "Pontifical College" conferred by Benedict XVI in 2010 — carries with it the commitment to safeguard faithful adherence to the Successor of Peter. He concludes by recalling that the one Faith in Christ is "an essential element for the credibility of our witness" (cf. Jn 17:20-21), and entrusts the community, together with the Archconfraternity and the Görres Society, to Our Lady of Pity.

📷 Photos

Pope Leo XIV receives the community of the Pontifical Teutonic College, 3 October 2026 (© Vatican Media)

The audience in the Hall of the Consistory for the College's 150th anniversary (© Vatican Media)

The Pope greets the College's priests and the Archconfraternity (© Vatican Media)

📰 Articles

Vatican NewsOfficial

Pope: unity is an essential element for the credibility of our witness

On the 150th anniversary of the founding of the Pontifical Teutonic College, the Pope traces its history, from a refuge for German priests at the time of the Kulturkampf to a centre of study and formation.

📜 Speech text

Greeting to the community of the Pontifical Teutonic College of St Mary in Campo Santo, on its 150th anniversary (translated)

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Peace be with you! Excellencies, Reverend Monsignor Rector, dear priests of the College, dear members of the Archconfraternity, dear sisters and brothers, I am glad to meet you on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the founding of your College and I offer you a warm welcome.

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Peace be with you!

Excellencies, Reverend Monsignor Rector, dear priests of the College, dear members of the Archconfraternity, dear sisters and brothers,

I am glad to meet you on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the founding of your College and I offer you a warm welcome. The origins of the Campo Santo as a privileged reference point for pilgrims travelling to Rome from the territory of the Holy Roman Empire date back to the eighth century. In the nineteenth century this place took on particular importance for priests of their respective countries, when the activity of the clergy had been considerably hindered, if not made entirely impossible, because of the ecclesiastical policy measures of the Kulturkampf in the German Empire. Thanks to the welcome offered by the Archconfraternity of the Teutonic Campo Santo, it thus became a place of refuge and study for priests from German-speaking regions, increasingly turning into an important centre for Christian archaeology, Church history and research into Christian origins. All of you can look with gratitude on the rich fruits of this history.

Today too, the priestly College wants to be a safe place of formation, where the clerics who live here can deepen their intellectual and spiritual journey, so as then to be able to answer the questions of the people in their homeland in the face of the great challenges of our time, and to give an account of the hope that is in us (cf. 1 Pet 3:15).

A distinctive feature of your College is the unique closeness to the tomb of St Peter the Apostle, which in the history of this Institution, from its very beginnings, has gone hand in hand with a faithful adherence to the Roman Pontiff. This is reflected in the title of "Pontifical College", which Pope Benedict XVI conferred on it in 2010. Linked to this honour is also a commitment: to safeguard this closeness and this unity with the Successor of Peter and with the Faith of the Apostles that he proclaims.

This one Faith in Christ is the principle of unity among the faithful, for which the Lord prayed for his disciples, since it constitutes an essential element for the credibility of our witness (cf. Jn 17:20-21). Make this heartfelt plea of Jesus your own, ask for this gift, so that the community of your College may be a place where such unity can be concretely practised and made visible.

To this end I ask for you the help of the Holy Spirit. I entrust you and your College, together with the Archconfraternity and the Görres Society in Rome, to your patroness Our Lady of Pity, and I bless you all from my heart. Thank you.

Official source ↗