Study trip to Sicily in June
At the end of the academic year, we spent a week in Sicily. We visited the east coast, including Catania and Syracuse, before exploring the western part of the island in Palermo. The trip was shaped by the diverse cultural influences, the island’s turbulent history, and the breathtaking scenery.
Study trip – Assisi
A two-day study trip took the group to Umbria, following in the footsteps of Francis of Assisi.
Seminar day
Roman-German Protestantism?!
More than three centuries after the Reformation, a German Protestant service was held in Rome for the first time in 1817. It was conducted by Christian Carl Josias von Bunsen, the influential Prussian diplomat and theology dropout who had a lasting impact on the Protestant presence in Rome as the founder of the German community. The seminar focused on Bunsen’s work and examined the role of Protestantism in the 19th century in a city that stands for Catholicism like no other. The day ended with a visit to the Cimitero Acattolico and the Capitol with Dr Pierre Sfendules from Kiel.
Block seminar
Church and politics
Is the Church political? And should it be? We explored these questions in a block seminar. We engaged in dialogue with people who work at the interface between the Church and politics. We visited Monsignor Oliver Lahl, the spiritual counsellor at the German Embassy to the Holy See and the Sovereign Order of Malta, who provided fascinating insights into communication between the Roman Catholic Church and politics. We also visited the international office of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, where we were able to engage in dialogue and learn a great deal about the relevance of the Church in Germany and Italy. Discussion groups and workshops rounded off the block seminar.
Study trip to the Waldensian valleys in October
Our study trip took us to Val Pellice, where we were able to experience the impressive history of the Waldensians at first hand. Guided tours, lectures and encounters gave us fascinating insights into the eventful past and the life of the church today. A church service and sightseeing in Turin rounded off the autumn trip.
