Ratzinger Foundation Names Father Roberto Regoli as New President
The Joseph Ratzinger Benedict XVI Vatican Foundation has appointed Father Roberto Regoli as its new president, marking a leadership transition after a decade under Father Federico Lombardi. The Foundation, established in 2010, is dedicated to promoting the study and dissemination of the theological thought and pastoral legacy of Joseph Ratzinger and Pope Benedict XVI through academic initiatives, publications, and international events. Father Regoli, a respected Church historian, assumes the role at a moment of institutional renewal and in anticipation of significant upcoming milestones. His appointment signals continuity in the Foundation’s mission while opening a new phase focused on scholarly engagement and outreach, particularly as preparations advance for the centenary of Benedict XVI’s birth in 2027.
Father Regoli is currently a professor of contemporary Church history at the Pontifical Gregorian University, where he directs the Department of Church History and oversees the academic journal Archivium Historiae Pontificiae. His research and publications on the papacy, the Roman Curia, and Vatican diplomacy from the nineteenth century to the present have earned international recognition. He succeeds Father Lombardi, who led the Foundation for ten years following his long service as Director of the Holy See Press Office. In a message accompanying the announcement, Father Regoli described his predecessor as a steady and reassuring presence who guided the Foundation’s institutional path with prudence and confidence during a period of consolidation and growth.
The leadership change coincides with the renewal of the Foundation’s governing bodies, whose mandates expired in accordance with its statutes. The Secretariat of State oversaw the transition, confirming new appointments and renewals across key structures. Members of the Board of Directors include Archbishop Georg Gänswein, Professor Achim Buckenmaier, Francesca Bazoli, and Alberto Gasbarri, while the Scientific Committee continues its work under figures drawn from the episcopate and the Roman Curia. Several long serving members concluded their terms, reflecting a generational and institutional handover intended to strengthen the Foundation’s governance and academic orientation in the years ahead.
Looking forward, Father Regoli described the coming period as particularly significant, with the centenary of Joseph Ratzinger’s birth already shaping the Foundation’s agenda. Conferences, exhibitions, publications, and cultural initiatives are being planned across multiple continents, highlighting the enduring relevance of Benedict XVI’s theological vision. According to the new president, Ratzinger’s legacy remains a living source for theological reflection and personal faith journeys, especially among younger generations. He expressed the hope that the Foundation would continue to serve as a bridge between rigorous scholarship and lived faith, ensuring that the intellectual and spiritual heritage of the former Pope remains accessible, dynamic, and deeply rooted in the life of the Church.
