The Center for the Study of Catholic Higher Education, a new division of The Cardinal Newman Society, has published a collection of essays on Pope Benedict XVI and Catholic Higher Education.

The publication, Pope Benedict XVI and Catholic Higher Education: Commentaries in Advance of the Holy Father’s April 2008 Address to Catholic College Presidents, was released today in anticipation of the Pope’s visit to Washington, D.C., next week.

Among the articles are reflections on the papal visit by Dr. Timothy O’Donnell, president of Christendom College, and a review of then-Father Joseph Ratzinger’s work in Bavarian higher education by Dr. Brennan Pursell. Pursell, an associate professor of history at DeSales University and a Newman Fellow of The Center for the Study of Catholic Education, is the author of the recently published Benedict of Bavaria.

The publication also includes an essay “The Popes and Education in the 20^th Century” by Dr. Peter A. Kwasniewksi, another Newman Fellow and an associate professor of theology and philosophy at Wyoming Catholic College. Kwasniewksi is a co-editor of the new book On Love and Charity: Readings from the Commentary on the Sentences of Peter Lombard.

Joseph A. Esposito, director of The Center, said, “These essays will be helpful in providing a context for the Holy Father’s views on Catholic higher education, which will be an important focus of his visit.”

Pope Benedict will meet with all U.S. Catholic college and university presidents as well as diocesan education officials at The Catholic University of America on April 17.

The mission of The Center is to conduct research on Catholic higher education issues in accordance with the guidelines of Ex corde Ecclesiae and in a manner that is faithful to the Holy Father and Magisterium of the Catholic Church.

The Center will be officially launched later this spring with the release of its first research project and the publication of the inaugural edition of its quarterly publication The Bulletin of Catholic Higher Education.

In addition to The Bulletin, The Center produces the biennial Newman Guide to Choosing a Catholic College and works with Catholic educators and other leaders to conduct research reports on the most critical issues facing the Catholic higher education community.