Congratulations to Dr Fáinche Ryan, School of Religion, Theology and Peace Studies, on her election as President of the prestigious European Society of Catholic Theology at the International Congress of the European Society of Catholic Theology hosted in Dublin 22-24 August 2025 by the Loyola Institute, Trinity College, Dublin.
The European Society for Catholic Theology (ESCT) is the preeminent organisation in Europe promoting the academic discipline of Catholic theology and is composed of members from 22 countries. The Society is concerned primarily with Catholic theology at the intersection where Church and society meet. The ESCT offers itself as a support both to the Church and to society across Europe by engaging with questions that challenge Christian faith, as well as contemporary European culture.
Speaking of the election Professor Carmel O’Sullivan, Dean of the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences said “Dr Fáinche Ryan’s election as President of the European Society of Catholic Theology is a great honour, both for her personally and for Trinity College Dublin. It is a testament to the excellence of her scholarship and leadership, and to the proud tradition of critical, creative, and inclusive theological inquiry fostered here at Trinity. As a distinguished member of the Loyola Institute, Fáinche embodies the intellectual openness and academic rigour that define our university. Her presidency reflects not only her own achievements but also the strength and relevance of Catholic theological scholarship in a contemporary European context.”
Speaking about her election Dr Ryan said "I am delighted to accept this honour, both privilege and task at this challenging time in Europe and the world. Theology has a real task to offer genuine hope to people at this time. My focus over the next two years will be to continue to foster our "young" scholars thus ensuring a real future for theology, to increase our active European membership and to continue to foster critical engagement with the ecclesial magisterium.”
About Dr Fáinche Ryan
Dr Fáinche Ryan is a Theologian and Associate Professor in Systematic Theology at the Loyola Institute, Trinity College Dublin. She completed her doctorate at the Pontifical University of St Thomas Aquinas, Rome. She was elected Fellow of Trinity College Dublin in 2019. Dr Ryan’s research focuses on the theology of Thomas Aquinas, issues of leadership in church, and the question of truth-telling in society. She has published widely on these themes in books and in leading international journals.
Image from left to right: Cardinal Jean-Marc Aveline, Archbishop of Marseilles, Congress co-ordinator Dr Fáinche Ryan, and Archbishop Eamonn Martin, Archbishop of Armagh, Primate of All Ireland.