Apostolic Letter issued "Motu Proprio" Latina Lingua establishing the Pontifical Academy for Latin (10 November 2012) | BENEDICT XVI
APOSTOLIC BEAR
IN THE FORM OF "MOTU PROPRIO"
LATINA LINGUA
OF THE SUPREME PONTIFF
BENEDICT XVI
ESTABLISHING
THE PONTIFICAL ACADEMY FOR LATIN
1. The Latin language has always been very highly appreciated by the Catholic Church and the Roman Pontiffs. They have assuredly encouraged the knowledge and dissemination of Latin, adopting it as the Church's language, capable of passing on the gospel message throughout the world. This is authoritatively stated by the Apostolic Constitution Veterum Sapientia of my Precessor, Blessed John XXIII.
Indeed, the Church has spoken and prayed in the languages of all people since Pentecost. Nevertheless, the Christian communities of the early centuries frequently used Greek and Latin, languages of universal communication in the world in which they lived and through which the novelity of Christ's word encountered the heritage of the Roman-Hellenistic culture.
After the fall of the Roman Empire of the West, the Church of Rome continued to use Latin, but in a certain way, made herself her custodian and champion in both the theological and liturgical sectors as well as in the formation and transfer of knowledge.
2. In our time, knowledge of the Latin language and culture is proving more necessary than ever for the study of the sources, which, among other things, numerous ecclesiastical disciplines draw from, such as theology, liturgy, patristics and canon law, as the Second Vatican Ecumenical Council teaches (cf. Decree Optatam Totius, n. 13).
In addition, precisely to highlight the universal character of the Church, the liturgical books of the Roman Rite, the most important documents of the Papal Magisterium and the most solemn official acts of the Roman Pontiffs are written in this language in their authentic form.
3. However, in today's culture, the danger of an increasingly superficial knowledge of Latin can be noted in the context of the widespread weakening of humanistic studies. This is also a risk in the context of the philosophical and theological studies of future priests. In addition, in our own world, in which science and technology play such an important role, there is a renewed interest in the Latin culture and language and not only on those continents whose culture is rooted in the Greco-Roman heritage. This attention seems all the more meaningful since it not only involves academic and institutional sectors, but also concerns young people and scholars from very different nations and traditions.
4. It therefore seems urgently necessary to support the commitment to greater knowledge and more competent use of Latin, both in the ecclesial context and in the broader world of culture. In order to give relevance and resonance to this undertaking, the use of didactic methods in keeping with the new conditions and the promotion of a network of relations between academic institutions and scholars is particularly appropriate to make the most of the rich and multiform patrimony of the Latin civilization.
To contribute to achieving these goals in the footsteps of my venerable Precessors, today, with this Motu Proprio, I establish the Pontifical Academy for Latin, under the Pontifical Council for Culture. It is governed by a president assisted by a secretary, who is appointed by me, and by an academic council.
The Latinitas Foundation, erected by Paul VI with the Chirograph Romani Sermonis of 30 June 1976, is hereby replaced.
I order that this Apostolic Letter in the form of a Motu Proprio, with which I approve the attached statutes ad experimentum, be published for five years, in L'Osservatore Romano.
Given at St. Peter's in Rome on November 10 November 2012, the Memorial of St Leo the Great, the eighth year of my Pontificate.
BENEDICTUS PP XVI
Statutes of the Pontifical Academy for Latin
Article 1
The Pontifical Academy for Latin, with headquarters in Vatican City State, is established for the promotion and appreciation of the Latin language and culture. The Academy is linked to the Pontifical Council for Culture, on which it depends.
Article 2
§1. The goals of the Academy are:
a) to promote knowledge and study of Latin - language and literature, classical and patristic, medieval and humanistic - in particular at the Catholic institutions for formation, in which both seminarians and priests are trained and taught;
b) to promote the use of Latin in various contexts, both as a written and as a spoken language.
§ 2. In order to achieve these goals, the Academy intends to:
a) to publish and organize meetings, study congresses and exhibitions;
b) to set up and support courses, seminars and other training projects in coordination with the Pontifical Institute for Advanced Latin Studies;
c) to teach the young generations a knowledge of Latin, also through modern means of communication;
d) to organize exhibitions, shows and competitions;
e) to plan other activities and initiatives necessary for achieving the goals of the institution.
Article 3
The Pontifical Academy for Latin consists of the President, the Secretary, the Academic Council and members, who are also known as academicians.
Article 4
§ 1. The President of the Academy is appointed by the Supreme Pontiff for a five-year term. The office of the president may be extended for a second five-year term.
§ 2. It is the task of the President:
a) to represent the Academy legally before any judicial or administrative authority, either of the Church or the State;
b) convation and chairing the Academic Council and the Assembly of Members;
c) to participate as a member in the meetings of the Coordinating Council of the Pontifical Academies and to maintain relations with the Pontifical Council for Culture.
d) supervise the work of the Academy
e) take care of the ordinary administration with the support of the secretary, and in matters of extraordinary administration with the advice of the Academic Council and the Pontifical Council for Culture.
Article 5
§ 1. The secretary is appointed by the Supreme Pontiff for a five-year term and can be extended for a second five-year term.
§ 2. The president delegates the secretary to replace him in the event of absence or impediment.
Article 6
§ 1. The Academic Council consists of the President, the Secretary and five Councillors. The councillors are elected by the Assembly of Academics for a five-year term, which can be extended.
§ 2. The Academic Council, which is chaired by the President of the Academy, deliberates on the more important matters that concern the Academy. It approves the agenda in view of the Assembly of Members, which is to be held at least once a year. The Council is convoked by the President at least once a year and, in addition, whenever it is requested by at least three councillors.
Article 7
The President may, with the consent of the Council, appoint an archivist, with the duties of librarian, and a treasurer.
Article 8
§ 1. The Academy consists of no more than 50 Ordinary Members known as Academicians, who are scholars and connoisseurs of Latin, language and literature. They are appointed by the Secretary of State. When they reach the age of 80, the ordinary members become "emeritus".
§ 2. Ordinary academicians participate in the assembly of the Academy con con con con con convated by the President. Academicians emeritus may participate in the Assembly, but are not entitled to vote.
§ 3. The President of the Academy, having heard the opinion of the Council, can appoint as well as ordinary academicians other members, known as correspondents.
Article 9
The patrimony of the superseded Fondazione Latinitas and its activities, including the redaction and publication of the ReviewLatinitas, are transferred to the Pontifical Academy for Latin.
Article 10
Although not expressly prescribed, reference is made to the norms of the Code of Canon Law in force and to the laws of the Vatican City State.© Copyright 2012 - Libreria Editrice Vaticana
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