John Paul II Center for Interreligious Dialogue

Frederick M. Bliss, SM, then-director of the Ecumenical Section of the Theology Faculty, and Rabbi Jack Bemporad, director of the Center for Interreligious Understanding, in New Jersey.

The most famous alumnus of the Angelicum is Karol Wojtyła – Pope John Paul II – who earned a doctorate of philosophy there in the late 1940s.

As bishop of Rome, Pope John Paul II was a tireless advocate for interreligious dialogue, and lead the Catholic Church in its implementation of the Vatican Council II documents Nostra aetate and Dignitatis humanae, including profound work for the healing of memories, outreach to the Jewish community, and establishing the Assisi interreligious day of prayer for peace.

He was beatified on 1 May 2011 at St. Peter's Square in Rome, at a ceremony attended by approximately 2 million people, including representatives of the John Paul II Center.

The Fellowship was the only “full-ride” scholarship available for most students at the pontifical universities in Rome, as it covers tuition, room and board, books and travel expenses.

Every year the John Paul II Center brought 2-3 distinguished visiting professors to Rome, particularly in the areas of Jewish studies and interreligious dialogue.