Jnana Deepa (JD), Institute for Philosophy and Theology (Pontifical Athenaeum) is located at Pune, India.
The seminary was founded by the Apostolic Delegate to India, Mgr Lasdislaus Zaleski and the Belgian Jesuits (Fr Sylvain Grosjean) in response to the letter Ad extremas of Pope Leo XIII calling for the establishment of institutes for the training of the local clergy.
In 1955, the Papal Seminary along with its Athenaeum moved to Pune, Maharashtra (India), near the already existing Jesuit Formation House 'De Nobili College'.
Personalities like Richard De Smet,[4] George Lobo,[5] and George-Soares Prabhu[6] enabled JD to lead a Catholic movement toward the concerns of the poor and marginalised in Indian society.
[7] JD has continued in its pioneering activities in the Indian catholic church, for more than a decade pursuing dialog between science and religion.