From 8-10 April, the Pontificio Ateneo Sant’Anselmo successfully hosted a monastic symposium entitled Sapienza: Forma di vita e di pensiero, (Wisdom: Form of Life and Thought). The academic event explored the concept of Christian wisdom and its expression within the monastic tradition, examining its contemporary relevance and the Benedictine approach to theology.

The symposium aimed to offer a "sapiential consideration" of recent developments in various disciplines in light of revelation, liturgical life, the Church Fathers, and fraternal charity, as proposed by the Apostolic Constitution Veritatis Gaudium.

Distinguished speakers presented on a variety of topics related to monastic wisdom. A highlight of the event was the address by S. Em. Card. Víctor Manuel Fernández, Prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, who spoke on the theme of Teologia e vita, Theology and Life, on Wednesday, 9 April. His Eminence's presentation was introduced by Abbot Primate Jeremias Schröder OSB.

Other presentations during the symposium included:

• Abbot Jeremy Driscoll OSB: Wisdom as a Way of Life and Prayer
• Fernando Rivas OSB: The Book of Experience and the wisdom of stability
• Abbot Paolo Maria Gionta OSB: Sapienter indoctus. The paradoxical nature of Christian wisdom
• Maria Ignazia Angelini OSB: Attracted by the margins. From roots to shoots. The search for wisdom in our monastic experience, for the church, in history and in the world
• Mauritius Wilde OSB: Humankind formed and informed by God – the example of St. Benedict in the Dialogues of Gregory the Great
• Manuela Scheiba OSB: The taste of living. Wisdom and life in the Rule of Benedict
• S. Em. Card. Víctor Manuel Fernández, Prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, S.C.V.: Theology and life
• Dominik Terstriep, S.J.: Light from the North? Thoughts about wisdom theology on a Swedish background
• Isabella Bruckner: The discipline of self-care. Monastic wisdom and the search for post-secular formae vitae
• S.E. Mons. Vittorio Francesco Viola, O.F.M., Secretary of the Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments: Ars celebrandi. Insights for a sapiential theology
• Jordi Piqué i Collado OSB: Psallite sapienter: chant and music in monastic life today? A liturgical-theological reading
• Claudio Ubaldo Cortoni OSBCam.: A theology as wisdom. Or the elaboration of a mixed theology (Scholastic-gnosis-wisdom) in Cipriano Vagaggini
• Abbot Donato Ogliari OSB: Monastic wisdom between time and space
• Justina Metzdorf OSB: The tree of life is wisdom (Hilary of Poitiers). Encounters with Christ between garden and starry sky in patristic exegesis
• Maura Zátonyi OSB: Wise with the five senses (Hildegard of Bingen). A Benedictine concept on human participation in God's creative act in the world

The symposium culminated in a round table discussion on La saggezza nell’osservanza monastica, (Wisdom in Monastic Observance), with participants Abbot Primate Jeremias Schröder OSB; Abbot General Mauro Giuseppe Lepori, O.Cist.; Abbot General Bernardus Peeters, O.C.S.O.; Prior General Matteo Ferrari OSBCam.

The event was held at the Pontificio Ateneo Sant’Anselmo in Rome. Recognizing the international Benedictine community, the symposium also offered the option to participate online via Zoom with automatic translations between Italian and English. Participation was free of charge for both in-person and online attendees.

The symposium provided an enriching opportunity for intellectual engagement and fraternal dialogue within the global Benedictine family. The discussions aimed to deepen the understanding of Christian wisdom and the unique contribution of the monastic, specifically Benedictine, tradition.