Created: 2025.04.10. 11:17
The Research Group for Religion and Science at Széchenyi István University, in collaboration with the Saint Maurus Benedictine Priory and the Szaniszló Jáki Society, recently organized an international conference entitled „The Redeemer of Science”. The event, which focused on the relationship between faith and science, also addressed the challenges of the modern era, including Christian perspectives on artificial intelligence, while commemorating the Győr-born namesake of the society.
The distinguished international conference took place in the ornate ceremonial hall of Apátúr House—one of Győr’s most beautiful Baroque palaces, located on Széchenyi tér — and paid tribute to the life’s work of Szaniszló Jáki, a Benedictine monk and Templeton Prize-winning physicist. The event entitled “The Redeemer of Science” attracted numerous admirers and friends of the philosopher of science who emigrated to the United States, with participants travelling not only from Hungary but also from the USA, Italy and Spain. Organized by the Research Group for Religion and Science at Széchenyi István University, the Saint Maurus Benedictine Priory, and the Szaniszló Jáki Society, the central theme of the conference was the intersection of faith and science.
At the opening ceremony, Dr Eszter Lukács, Vice President for International Affairs and Strategic Relations at Széchenyi István University, stated that the Benedictine monk, who passed away in 2009, embodied the harmony between faith and science. “Many perceive these two concepts as being at odds, yet Szaniszló Jáki’s extraordinary academic career and exemplary life — which is still honourably represented today by the Benedictine fathers in Győr — demonstrates that the development of science is best understood as an integral part of faith,” she remarked.
Dr Lukács emphasized that the unique conference is a true celebration of science, as it featured presentations in Hungarian, English, and Italian on religious issues, as well as perhaps the greatest contemporary challenge: artificial intelligence. “I am confident that the distinguished speakers will present inspiring ideas, forward-looking philosophical approaches, and new perspectives on the relationship between science and faith,” she declared.
Among those present at the opening were Dr András Tóth, President of the Szaniszló Jáki Society; Dr. Eszter Lukács, Vice President for International Affairs and Strategic Relations at Széchenyi István University; Father Rafael Pascual, Professor of Philosophy at the Pontifical Athenaeum Regina Apostolorum in Rome; and Father Konstantin Tóth, Director of the Czuczor Gergely Benedictine Grammar School in Győr (Photo: Máté Dudás)
Dr András Tóth expressed his great joy that many individuals close to the renowned historian of science accepted the invitation in his honour, including American professor Stacy Trasancos, who wrote her doctoral dissertation on Father Jáki and now, as he did, teaches at Seton Hall University in the United States. He also highlighted the contribution of Lucía Guerra Menéndez, Associate Professor at Saint Paul University in Madrid, the only person to have co-authored a publication with the Győr-born monk. The event also welcomed Italian scholar Antonio Colombo, editor and translator of Father Jáki’s English-language works into Italian, as well as American scholar Thomas Fowler, a representative of the Xavier Zubiri Foundation, who spoke on the topic of artificial intelligence.
The keynote address was delivered by Fr Rafael Pascual, Professor of Philosophy at the Pontifical Athenaeum Regina Apostolorum in Rome, under the title „Approaches to Interpreting the Relationship between Science and Religion.” Delivered in Italian, the lecture presented theoretical frameworks for understanding the relationship between the two fields, offered by a scholar who has played a major role in promoting the international recognition of Szaniszló Jáki.
Dr Orsolya Pacsay-Tomassich, President of the Hungarian Diplomatic Academy, also addressed the audience. As the founder of the Stipendium Hungaricum Scholarship Programme — which provides significant support for international students — she is regarded as one of the leading figures in the internationalization of Hungarian higher education and the strengthening of international student communities in Hungary.
