Katholisch-Theologische Fakultät

Founded by Duke Albrecht III in 1384, the Katholisch-Theologische Fakultät stands as a testament to centuries of theological study. The Pope, Urban VI, gave his official blessing on February 21st of that year. This makes the Katholisch-Theologische Fakultät the oldest faculty of its kind in the German-speaking world. Imagine the scholars who have walked these halls. Think of the debates that have echoed within these walls. The Katholisch-Theologische Fakultät has been a hub of theological discourse for over 600 years. In the middle ages, renowned theologians like Heinrich von Langenstein and Heinrich Totting von Oyta graced its halls. Wiener theologians played key roles in the Councils of Constance and Basel. The university attracted a large number of students, solidifying its importance. The Reformation brought a period of stagnation. But the Katholisch-Theologische Fakultät experienced a revival thanks to Petrus Canisius. He served as a professor and dean, advocating for study reforms under Ferdinand I. From 1551 to 1773, Jesuit members primarily held professorships. Student numbers rose significantly. In 1774, Franz Stephan Rautenstrauch’s study reform firmly established church history and pastoral theology in the curriculum. The mid-19th century brought another challenge. Theological research stagnated as the very nature of theology as a science was questioned. However, Anton Günther, a highly influential theologian, worked in Vienna during this time. He sought a new philosophical foundation for Catholic theology by engaging with German Idealism. During the Nazi era, the Katholisch-Theologische Fakultät in Vienna remained the sole Catholic theological faculty in Austria. It continued operating, albeit with limitations. After 1945, the Katholisch-Theologische Fakultät once again became a center of theological research. It expanded its teaching and broadened its range of studies. Today, the Katholisch-Theologische Fakultät is one of the 20 faculties and centers of the University of Vienna. It is one of the largest in the German-speaking world. It fosters dialogue with other sciences, the public, and the Church. Approximately 70 scholars conduct research and teach across seven institutes, encompassing 15 departments. The faculty participates in two interdisciplinary research centers. These are “Religion and Transformation in Contemporary Society” and “Human Rights.” It also contributes to an interdisciplinary research platform, “Ethics and Law in Medicine,” and the University of Vienna’s Center for Teacher Education. In 2017, about 1,000 students from around 30 countries studied at the Katholisch-Theologische Fakultät. It offers 12 theological and religious studies programs at Bachelor, Master, Diploma, Doctoral, and PhD levels. It also offers two supplementary curricula in religious studies. The painting “Theology” by Franz Matsch hangs in the faculty’s meeting room. It’s the only surviving original from a series of four faculty paintings. This unique piece adds another layer to the rich tapestry of history within the Katholisch-Theologische Fakultät.