“The Vocation of the Christian Philosopher” was the topic of the presentation given by University of St. Thomas (Houston) philosophy professor Dr. John Hittinger at a conference in Vatican City last month.

The conference, which was sponsored by the Pontifical Academy of St. Thomas Aquinas, was titled, “The Thomistic legacy in Blessed John Paul II and his refounding of the Pontifical Academy of St. Thomas Aquinas.”

Here’s more from the University of St. Thomas press release:

The Pontifical Academy of St. Thomas Aquinas celebrates the Blessed John Paul II’s Encyclical Letter “Fides et ratio,” which reinterpreted Aquinas’ themes of truth, good and being at the conference.

“In compliance with the Beatification of Pope John Paul II by Pope Benedict XVI, the Pontifical Academy of St. Thomas would like to recognize this admirable work not only out of gratefulness but also as a commitment and mission,” the Academy states in the prologue to the conference. “The Pontifical Academy of St. Thomas invites all of its academicians and all those who witnessed John Paul II’s pontificate to unite in prayer and in the celebration of the happily reigning Benedict XVI, and to reflect on the special relationship between St. Thomas and the blessed John Paul II, the heavenly patrons of the Academy.”

Hittinger founded the Pope John Paul II Forum for the Church in the Modern World in 2009. He graduated from the University of Notre Dame in 1974 and completed his master’s and doctoral degrees in the School of Philosophy at The Catholic University of America. He also spent one year at the University of Dallas studying philosophy and politics. Hittinger has published four books and numerous articles and presented papers on a variety of topics including John Locke, Jacques Maritain, military ethics, liberal education, political philosophy and the thought of John Paul II.

At the conference, Dr. Hittinger was joined by fellow presenters Msgr. John Wippel of The Catholic University of America and former Vatican City Secretary of State Cardinal Angelo Sodano.

University of St. Thomas is promoted by The Cardinal Newman Society in The Newman Guide to Choosing a Catholic College for its strong Catholic identity.

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