University opens research centre in honour of Benedict XVI

St Mary’s University in Twickenham has established a “Benedict XVI” centre for research into religion and social sciences, writes Rose Gamble.

The new centre is intended to become a hub for research and will publish reports and host events. It will initially be staffed by eight members of St Mary’s faculty, including Philip Booth, who is research director of the Institute of Economic Affairs, Ruth Kelly, a former Labour Education Secretary, and Dr Stephen Bullivant, who is the centre’s director. Its current research includes a study into “Humanae Vitae at 50”.

The university approved the creation of the centre last year, five years after Pope Benedict XVI’s historic visit to St Mary’s where he met with religious leaders of different denominations to discuss religion in society.

The name of the centre has, according to the university, received approval from the Vatican’s Secretariat of State. St Mary’s has also established Benedict XVI House, a lay community of staff and full-time students pursuing a life focused on prayer.