LATIN, A LANGUAGE TO BUILD THE IDENTITY OF EUROPE

VATICAN CITY, MAY 24, 2007 (VIS) - "Latin Future: the language for building the identity of Europe" is the theme of an international congress to be held in Rome and the Vatican from May 25 to 26. The event is being promoted by the Italian National Research Council (CNR) and the Pontifical Committee for Historical Sciences.

Professors, senators, writers and journalists from various countries, the majority Italian, are due to participate in the congress.

On the first day Friday, May 25, discussions will focus on the question of "the role of Latin in the formation of Europe" and on the "modernity and significance of Latin for scientific and cultural progress."

Among those present on Saturday, May 26, to consider the question of "policies to follow in order to support the study of Latin" will be Jan Figel, European Commissioner for Education, Training, and Culture, and Wang Huansheng, a member of the Academy of Social Sciences of Beijing, China.

Before the closing address, due to be delivered by Msgr. Walter Brandmuller, president of the Pontifical Committee for Historical Sciences, the winner of the "ad Fontes" journalism prize will be announced. The prize, now in its second edition, is awarded for the publication of articles on subjects associated with the importance of Classical languages in education and scientific and cultural development.