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Pontifical Biblical Institute

Coordinates: 41°53′56″N 12°29′01″E / 41.8988°N 12.4836°E / 41.8988; 12.4836
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Pontifical Biblical Institute
Latin: Pontificium Institutum Biblicum
FounderPope Pius X
Established1909; 117 years ago (1909)
MissionBiblical and Ancient Near Eastern Studies
FocusCatholic, Jesuit
PresidentPeter Dubovský, S.J.
RectorP. Mark A. Lewis, S.J.
Location
Piazza della Pilotta
Rome, Italy;
Paul Emile Botta St.
Jerusalem, Israel
Coordinates41°53′56″N 12°29′01″E / 41.8988°N 12.4836°E / 41.8988; 12.4836
Map
Interactive map of Pontifical Biblical Institute
Websitebiblico.it
Biblical Institute, Rome
Biblical Institute, Jerusalem

The Pontifical Biblical Institute (also known as Biblicum) is a research and postgraduate teaching institution specialised in biblical and ancient Near Eastern studies located in Rome. Founded in 1909 by Pope Pius X, it is an institution of the Holy See entrusted to the Society of Jesus (Jesuits). Since 1927, the Institute has had a branch in the city of Jerusalem.

Along with the Pontifical Oriental Institute, the Pontifical Biblical Institute was incorporated into the Pontifical Gregorian University under a single rector when the new statutes of the Gregorian took effect on 19 May 2024.[1][2][3]

History

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The Pontifical Biblical Institute, along with the Pontifical Biblical Institute Library, was founded by Pope Pius X in the apostolic letter Vinea Electa in 1909 as a centre of advanced studies in Holy Scripture.[4] At first, the Institute prepared students for exams at the Pontifical Biblical Commission. In 1916, it was licensed by Pope Benedict XV to grant academic degrees in the name of the commission. In 1928, it was licensed by Pope Pius XI to grant doctorates in affiliation with the Pontifical Gregorian University, independently of the commission.[5]

A branch was opened in Jerusalem in 1927.[6]

In 1932, the Oriental Faculty was founded.[citation needed]

Jerusalem house

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A branch was opened in Jerusalem by Alexis Mallon SJ in 1927,[6] which functions as a base of operations in the Holy Land for the school in Rome. It has a library and a museum, and currently offers to students registered for the licence in the Biblical Faculty three academic programs, which are part of their overall curriculum: a Biblical Hebrew program in collaboration with The Hebrew University of Jerusalem; courses in Biblical Aramaic, exegesis, theology, and biblical history, archaeology and geography at the École Biblique; and a course in biblical archeology and geography at the Studium Biblicum Franciscanum.[7]

Museum

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The Museum of the PBI in Jerusalem contains two main parts: the Egyptian collection boasting a mummy, a coffin lid and the axe-head of Khufu; and the Teleilat Ghassul collection, named after the Jordan Valley type-site of the Ghassulian culture dating to the Chalcolithic, with wall paintings including a copy of the 'Ghassulian star', as well as pottery.[8] The Jerusalem house received the mummy of the 2nd century BCE priest Iret-hor-iru as a gift from Jesuits in Alexandria one year after its establishment, in 1928.[9]

Rectors

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All of its rectors have been Jesuit priests. Cardinal Bea is particularly noteworthy for having defended the university against charges of Modernism before the Second Vatican Council.

  • Leopold Fonck (1909–1924)
  • John J. O'Rourke (1924–1930)
  • Augustin Bea (1930–1949)
  • Ernest Vogt (1949–1963)
  • Roderick A. MacKenzie (1963–1969)
  • Carlo Maria Martini (1969–1978)
  • Maurice Gilbert (1978–1984)
  • Albert Vanhoye (1984–1990)
  • Klemens Stock (1990–1996)
  • Robert F. O'Toole (1996–2002)
  • Stephen Pisano (2002–2008)
  • José María Abrego de Lacy (2008–2014)
  • Michael Kolarcik (2014–2023) [10]
  • Peter Dubovský (since 2023-May 18 2024)

Alumni

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Main page: Category:Pontifical Biblical Institute alumni

Among the prominent alumni of the Biblicum, the following were elevated to the episcopate and/or the cardinalate:

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Vatican News (18 March 2024). "Jesuits complete merger of three Pontifical Universities into single entity". Vatican News. Retrieved 21 August 2024.
  2. ^ Gagliarducci, Andrea (19 March 2024). "Gregoriana, Pontificio Istituto Orientale e Biblico ora sono una sola cosa" (in Italian). ACI Stampa. Retrieved 20 March 2024.
  3. ^ Payne, Daniel (19 March 2024). "Pontifical Gregorian University Announces Merger With Biblical, Eastern Institutes". National Catholic Register. Catholic News Agency. Retrieved 20 March 2024.
  4. ^ "Biblicum from Vatican". Archived from the original on 2019-11-28. Retrieved 2017-10-09.
  5. ^ "History". www.biblico.it. Archived from the original on 2019-02-13. Retrieved 2017-10-09.
  6. ^ a b "House in Jerusalem". Archived from the original on 2016-01-19. Retrieved 2016-02-03.
  7. ^ "House in Jerusalem". Pontifical Biblical Institute. Retrieved 26 March 2026.
  8. ^ Briffa, Rev. Prof. Josef Mario, SJ (2017–2025). "Visitors Guide [to the museum]". Pontifical Biblical Institute, Jerusalem. Retrieved 26 March 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  9. ^ Ben-Zion, Ilan (26 July 2016). "Israel's only mummy gets afterlife spotlight at Israel Museum". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 23 December 2023.
  10. ^ "Catholic". Archived from the original on 2016-03-18. Retrieved 2016-02-03.
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