Bridging East and West: The Pontifical Oriental Institute’s Legacy of Eastern Christian Studies

Rome, with its deep-rooted heritage as the cradle of the Catholic Church, might not immediately come to mind as a focal point for Eastern Christian studies. However, since its foundation in 1917 by Pope Benedict XV, the Pontifical Oriental Institute (PIO) has been a unique institution within the Catholic Church, entrusted to the Society of Jesus for over a century. It stands out for offering specializations across all traditions of Eastern Christianity, including the Byzantine (Greek, Arab, Slavonic, Georgian), Coptic, Syriac (Western and Eastern), Armenian, Ethiopian, and Arab Christian heritage.

The PIO houses students and faculty from various Eastern Churches, both Orthodox and Catholic, fostering a unique ecumenical environment. The institute comprises two faculties: the Faculty of Eastern Church Studies, which includes Theological-Patristic, Liturgical, and Historical department, and the Faculty of Eastern Canon Law. A cornerstone of the institute is its library, renowned for its extensive collection of volumes on Eastern Christianity, ranging from ancient books to recent publications, facilitating in-depth research.

The academic program at the PIO is designed to offer rigorous engagement with primary sources (manuscripts and documents) from different Eastern Christian traditions. Students have the opportunity to study classical and different Oriental languages directly linked to these traditions, such as Greek, Syriac, Arabic, Coptic, Ethiopian, Nubian, Armenian, Georgian, Sogdian, Old Church Slavonic, Russian, and Turkish. Additionally, courses in paleography and codicology of these languages are offered to prepare students for competent work with primary sources.

Another significant aspect of the PIO’s mission is to promote comparative studies among the various traditions. Such comparative work, grounded in source studies, aims to enhance understanding across diverse Christian traditions, helping to bridge historical divides and foster unity. Noteworthy is the institute’s alumni network, which includes several prominent church prelates, such as Bartholomew, Patriarch of Constantinople; Gregorios III Laham, Patriarch Emeritus of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church; Louis Raphaël I Sako, Cardinal and Patriarch of Babylon of the Chaldeans; and Mar Awa III, Patriarch-Catholicos of the Church of the East.

The contributions of individuals from our province to the PIO have been significant, including Father Peter-Hans Kolvenbach, former Rector of the PIO who later became the Superior General of the Society of Jesus, and Father Samir Khalil, who taught Arab Christian heritage at the PIO for over 40 years.

Since December 2016, I have become a part the Pontifical Oriental Institute as a professor of Arab Christian literature and theology, as well as Syriac patrology, and from September 2022, I took on the role of Dean of the Faculty of Eastern Church Studies. My dedication lies in advancing the rich legacy bequeathed by my predecessors, focusing on both preserving and enhancing our collective scholarly and ecclesiastical heritage.

Fr. Željko Paša, SJ