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First treaty between Berlin and the Vatican: historic date!
On September 29, 2025, Berlin signs an international treaty with the Vatican on Catholic theology at Humboldt University.
First treaty between Berlin and the Vatican: historic date!
The first state treaty between the state of Berlin and the Holy See is about to be signed. On Monday, September 29, 2025, a significant agreement will be signed at 9:30 a.m. in the Pillar Hall of the Red City Hall in Berlin. The Governing Mayor of Berlin, Kai Wegner, and the Apostolic Nuncio, H.E. Monsignor Dr. Nikola Eterović, will be present. This signing is an important step in cooperation in the field of Catholic theology.
The contract regulates the cooperation between the state and the Institute for Catholic Theology at the Humboldt University in Berlin, which has existed since 2019. In particular, aspects such as the range of courses on offer, organizational integration, the right to award doctorates and the appointment of professors are dealt with. In addition, the Catholic Church is given the right to have a say, comparable to theological institutions of other religious communities at state universities, as katholisch.de reports.
Details about the event and media information
The course of the appointment initially provides for a picture appointment to welcome the Apostolic Nuncio at the main portal of the Red Town Hall at 9:00 a.m. This is followed by a conversation in the office that is not open to the press. Afterwards, the State Treaty and the associated press statements will be presented in the Hall of Columns. For media representatives, registration via a form is required by Friday, September 26, 2025, at 4:00 p.m., as berlin.de reports.
The Berlin Senate already approved the signing of the state treaty on Tuesday. Negotiations on the agreements had been delayed; The original plan was to sign by the end of 2022. The new agreement replaces the provisions of the Final Protocol, which had been in force in Berlin since 1970 and was also in force for the eastern part of the city until 1991.
Context for the development of Catholic theology
This state treaty is a significant renewal as it relates to the Institute for Catholic Theology at Humboldt University, which has existed since 2018. The draft was already approved in the Berlin Senate on June 21, 2022, and Senator Ulrike Gote was largely responsible for the submission, according to berlin.de.
The state treaty therefore represents not just a formal act, but is an important step towards strengthening the relationship between Berlin and the Vatican in the context of academic teaching and research in Catholic theology.