On November 18, composer Arvo Pärt was awarded the Ratzinger Prize, established in honor of Pope Benedict XVI. This award is also called the Nobel Prize for Theology. In addition to her achievements in theology, she is now also awarded for outstanding artistic creativity of spiritual content. Together with the Estonian composer Arvo Pärt, who became the first musician to receive the prestigious prize during its existence, this time it also received the German Lutheran theologian Theodor Dieter and the German Catholic priest and theologian Karl-Heinz Menke. Vatican Radio quoted Pope Francis as commenting on the change in the format of the Ratzinger Prize: “I was delighted to see the idea of broadening the horizons of the Prize to include art beyond theology and related sciences. This expansion fits perfectly with the vision of Benedict XVI, who repeatedly uttered moving words about beauty as the chosen path to open transcendence and meet God. In particular, we had the opportunity to admire his sensitive perception of music and how he himself practiced this art, the path to tranquility and spiritual elevation. ' After the award was presented to the composer from Estonia and the words of Pope Francis addressed to him, the soloist of the Academy of St. Cecilia performed the Vater unser (Our Father), written by Arvo Pärt, on a piano owned by Benedict XVI.
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