"Ratzinger is not only a great theologian of the past, but also a great promise for the future". These are some of the words pronounced by the theologian and philosopher Pablo Blanco Sarto, professor of the School of Theology of the University of Navarra, during the ceremony of submission of the award Ratzinger of Theology 2023, which he received from the hands of Cardinal Pietro Parolin and which he shares with the Spanish philosopher Francesc Torralba.

In his speech, delivered at the conference room Regia of the Apostolic Palace, he retraced his apprenticeship with the man he considers his "great Bavarian master in theology" and drew some conclusions from the story, such as that the best Ratzinger is yet to come: "A theology between two millennia, which gathers the best of the whole tradition of the Church and the thought of the twentieth century, and projects it towards the beginning of our century". And he concluded: "Now I think that his company, a little more from above, will continue to enlighten us in this exciting and somewhat risky beginning of the third millennium".

In his words he also wanted to thank Pope Francis and those who have intervened for the concession of this award, which he considers "not as something staff but as something collective". In the first place, he explained that "it is a award totheology in Spanish or Castilian, which has already borne some fruit over the centuries, both in Spain and in Latin America". Professor Blanco also emphasized that it is a award to his teachers at the School of Theology at the University of Navarra, where Joseph Ratzinger was appointed honorary doctor in 1998, twenty-five years ago.

28 researchers from 16 countries and different religious denominations

The award Ratzinger of Theology is a award awarded annually by the Joseph Ratzinger-Benedict XVI Vatican Foundation to one or more "academics who have distinguished themselves by particular merit in publications and/or scientific research," as stated in the Statutes. This is the first time it will be held after the death of Benedict XVI in December 2022. With this edition, there are now 28 personalities who have received the award Ratzinger since 2011 until today, from 16 different countries and different religious denominations.

Pablo Blanco Sarto was born on July 12, 1964 in Zaragoza. He studied Hispanic Philology at the University of Navarra and finished his programs of study in Theology at the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross (Rome), where he also defended the doctorate in Philosophy. He was ordained a priest on September 21, 1997.

In 2005 he completed his doctorate in Dogmatic Theology at the University of Navarra, with a study on the fundamental theology and religions of Joseph Ratzinger, and is currently Senior Associate Professor of the School of Theology in the areas of ecumenism, sacramental theology and ministry. He is also Adjunct Professor of the Institute Core Curriculum of the academic center and of Master's Degree in Christianity and Contemporary Culture of the University of Navarra, in Madrid.

Professor Blanco is the author of numerous works on Joseph Ratzinger, including Benedict XVI. The Biography; Joseph Ratzinger. A Biography; Benedict XVI, the Theologian Pope; Joseph Ratzinger. Life and Theology; Benedict XVI and the Second Vatican Council; and The Theology of Joseph Ratzinger.