On 6 June 2025, Abbot Marianus Bieber of Niederaltaich Abbey awarded the Emmanuel Heufelder Prize to His Beatitude Bartholomew I, Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, in recognition of his decades-long commitment to Christian unity. The award, named after the monastery’s former abbot, Emmanuel Heufelder OSB, is presented to individuals who have rendered outstanding service in promoting ecumenical relations, especially between the Roman Catholic and Orthodox Churches.

The Abbey of Niederaltaich, part of the Bavarian Congregation of the Benedictine Confederation, has a particular connection to this mission. It was one of the first monasteries to embrace the appeal of Pope Pius XI in 1924, encouraging Benedictine abbeys to engage more deeply with the Eastern churches. Today, a portion of the Niederaltaich community lives and prays according to the Byzantine rite, embodying this ecumenical vocation in daily monastic life.

Patriarch Bartholomew, who has served as Ecumenical Patriarch since 1991, has long been at the forefront of fostering dialogue between East and West. In his acceptance speech, he spoke of the enduring need for patience, prayer and friendship in the search for Christian unity — values that closely align with the vision of Abbot Heufelder and the continuing work of the monks at Niederaltaich.

The ceremony, held in Munich, drew representatives from Orthodox, Catholic and ecumenical circles, reinforcing the shared commitment to bridging historical divides between churches. For Benedictines, such encounters reflect a tradition of contributing to meaningful conversations across Christian traditions.

By honouring Patriarch Bartholomew with the Emmanuel Heufelder Prize, Niederaltaich Abbey underscored the Benedictine Confederation’s continuing role in building respectful and enduring relationships with the Eastern churches — a mission begun a century ago and sustained today in monasteries, lecture halls and friendships.