Cardinal Kurt Koch of the Vatican will visit Emory University for a series of free lectures in September, examining interfaith and ecumenical efforts across the globe.

The lectures are hosted by the Aquinas Center at Emory’s Candler School of Theology.

Koch is president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity and president of the Pontifical Commission for Religious Relations with the Jews.


His lectures on Sept. 18 and Sept. 19 will focus on his Vatican positions, his commitment to ecumenical dialogue and insights from Pope Francis on interfaith endeavors.

Koch, a native of Switzerland, has been a cardinal since November 2010.

At 7:30 p.m. on Sept. 18, Koch will discuss “Toward Full Communion: Hopes, Achievements, Obstacles and Challenges” in the sanctuary of Glenn Memorial United Methodist Church on campus.

The lecture is the first in this year’s Major Catholic Speaker series, presented annually by the Aquinas Center.

On Sept. 19, Koch will present a Dean’s Lecture on “The Significance of Theology for the Ecumenical Movement” from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in room 252 of Candler’s Rita Anne Rollins Building. Register online at aquinas.emory. edu.

Koch’s visit comes as U.S. Catholics are reeling from scandal in Pennsylvania. A recently released grand jury report outlined decades of sexual abuse by priests and cover-ups by church authorities.

Pope Francis has acknowledged the Pennsylvania case and said the Catholic Church has shown “no care for the little ones. We abandoned them.”