IIE Europe is pleased to announce the 2014 cohort of Russell Berrie Fellows in Interreligious Studies. This year's fellows constitute a highly qualified and diverse group of scholars seeking to make a difference by contributing to interreligious dialogue and interfaith understanding through their year-long education at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome.

The 2014 Russell Berrie Fellows are:

Ms. Anna Marie Bninski, United States of America

Ms. Elena Dini, Italy

Fr. Caetano Joaquim Fernandes, India

Fr. Nigel Joseph Karam, Dominica

Fr. Koumakpai Noukpo Moise, Benin

Fr. Vinh Hoang Nguyen, Vietnam

Mr. Nazar Sloboda, Ukraine

Ms. Elena Tadiello, Italy

The eight fellows come from seven different countries and represent a wide range of interests within interreligious studies. Their educational backgrounds, besides theology and religious studies, include sociology, psychology, Near and Middle Eastern studies as well as languages and communication. To learn more about the fellows of Cohort VII, go to the John Paul II Center's website to read their short bios.

The new group of fellows has already arrived in Rome, and began their academic programs after participating in a four-day long Orientation and Interreligious Dialogue Academic Workshop organized by IIE and hosted by the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum). 

In addition to reviewing the program requirements, the orientation included an introduction to the Angelicum as their host institution and guided tours of Rome. While getting acquainted with the city, the fellows also had a special opportunity to visit its Jewish quarters, deepening their knowledge of the history of Jewish-Catholic relations in Rome. 

Additional stops included the Vatican, where the fellows met with Fr. Norbert Hofmann, Secretary of the Vatican's Commission for Religious Relations with the Jews, and the Pontifical Gregorian University where they visited the Cardinal Bea Centre for Judaic Studies. The final two days of the orientation focused on the academic orientation of the fellows as well as preparation for their spring trip to Israel, led by Dr. Adam Afterman, academic advisor to the program from Tel Aviv University and the Shalom Hartman Institute of Jerusalem.

In its seventh year, the Russell Berrie Fellowship in Interreligious Studies aims to build bridges between Christian, Jewish, and other religious traditions by providing the next generation of religious leaders with a comprehensive understanding of and dedication to interfaith issues.