[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ fullwidth=”on” _builder_version=”4.27.2″ custom_margin=”-50px||73px||false|false” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_fullwidth_slider show_image_video_mobile=”on” use_bg_overlay=”off” use_text_overlay=”off” arrows_custom_color=”#020443″ dot_nav_custom_color=”#020443″ _builder_version=”4.27.2″ background_enable_image=”off” custom_button=”on” button_text_color=”#ffffff” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”100px||||false|false” custom_padding=”38px||420px|||” auto=”on” auto_ignore_hover=”on” hover_transition_duration=”10ms” hover_transition_delay=”10ms” hover_transition_speed_curve=”ease-out” hover_transition_duration_tablet=”” hover_transition_duration_phone=”” hover_transition_duration_last_edited=”on|desktop” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_slide _builder_version=”4.27.2″ background_color=”RGBA(255,255,255,0)” background_enable_color=”on” background_image=”http:\/\/international.addu.edu.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/792520907_1041286632139942_9095067857000034886_n.jpeg” background_enable_image=”on” background_size=”contain” global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_transition=”on”][\/et_pb_slide][et_pb_slide _builder_version=”4.27.2″ background_color=”RGBA(255,255,255,0)” background_enable_color=”on” background_image=”http:\/\/international.addu.edu.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/793160832_1089314870507352_3827838172786770321_n-1.jpeg” background_enable_image=”on” background_size=”contain” global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_transition=”on”][\/et_pb_slide][et_pb_slide _builder_version=”4.27.2″ background_color=”RGBA(255,255,255,0)” background_enable_color=”on” background_image=”http:\/\/international.addu.edu.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/794494220_1774796203833722_5230138035953903293_n.jpeg” background_enable_image=”on” background_size=”contain” global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_transition=”on”][\/et_pb_slide][et_pb_slide _builder_version=”4.27.2″ background_color=”RGBA(255,255,255,0)” background_enable_color=”on” background_image=”http:\/\/international.addu.edu.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/801964009_1073773348686873_4254318564354448570_n.jpeg” background_enable_image=”on” background_size=”contain” global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_transition=”on”][\/et_pb_slide][\/et_pb_fullwidth_slider][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.2″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n
The Ateneo de Davao University (ADDU), through the Ateneo Internationalization for Mindanao (AIM) Office and the Department of Theology, hosted Fr. Felix K\u00f6rner, SJ and Mr. Muhammed Mansur Do\u011fan of the Central Institute for Catholic Theology (IKT), Humboldt University of Berlin, Germany, for a two-week academic visit from 30 August to 13 September 2026.<\/p>\n
Welcoming the Visiting Lecturers<\/strong><\/p>\n Fr. K\u00f6rner is a German Jesuit priest and scholar whose work focuses on Islam, interreligious dialogue, and Christian-Muslim relations. He previously lived in Ankara, Turkey, and taught Dogmatic Theology and the Theology of Interreligious Dialogue at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome. Since 2021, he has served as Professor of Theology in Berlin and holds the Nicolas of Cusa Chair at the Institute of Catholic Theology of Humboldt University. His teaching and publications engage questions of Catholic faith, intra-Christian dialogue, Muslim-Christian relations, and the relationship between religion and politics. He is also a long-standing friend of Ateneo de Davao University and has visited the University on several previous occasions.<\/p>\n Mr. Do\u011fan is an Islamic theologian and sociologist at Humboldt University of Berlin and a research associate at the Central Institute for Catholic Theology (IKT), where he is affiliated with the Nicolas of Cusa Chair for the Theology of Religions. His academic work focuses on ethics, interfaith marriage, and interreligious relations and dialogue. He also explores how practices of discernment, including those associated with the Ignatian tradition, may be understood within interreligious and inter-theological contexts.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ _builder_version=”4.27.2″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”50px|auto|50px|auto|true|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.27.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”http:\/\/international.addu.edu.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/37.png” title_text=”37″ _builder_version=”4.27.2″ _module_preset=”default” width=”100%” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.27.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”http:\/\/international.addu.edu.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/38.png” title_text=”38″ _builder_version=”4.27.2″ _module_preset=”default” width=”100%” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Courtesy Meetings, Campus Visits, and Cultural Tours<\/strong><\/p>\n On 1 September 2026, Fr. K\u00f6rner and Mr. Do\u011fan had a courtesy visit to Dr. Renante D. Pilapil, Vice President for Higher Education. Fr. K\u00f6rner then joined faculty members of the Department of Theology for a focused session on approaches and methods in systematic theology.<\/p>\n They also met with Dr. Nelly Z. Limbadan, Dean of the School of Arts and Sciences, to discuss research collaboration and the development of scholarly outputs from the visit for publication in University journals, and with Mr. Kenny Lloyd L. Angon, Assistant Director of the Al Qalam Institute for Islamic Identities and Dialogue in Southeast Asia, and Scl. Sultan U. Ubpon, Chairperson of the Department of Islamic Studies, for an exchange on Muslim-Christian dialogue, Islamic studies, and future academic engagement.<\/p>\n Their itinerary also included cultural and campus visits, among them the University\u2019s Basic Education campuses in Matina and Bangkal and the National Museum of the Philippines in Davao.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ _builder_version=”4.27.2″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”50px||50px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.27.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”http:\/\/international.addu.edu.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/791484005_1583760126757025_4419915543708033820_n.jpeg” title_text=”791484005_1583760126757025_4419915543708033820_n” _builder_version=”4.27.2″ _module_preset=”default” width=”100%” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.27.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”http:\/\/international.addu.edu.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/791321613_1042749752095026_4278670830631327341_n.jpeg” title_text=”791321613_1042749752095026_4278670830631327341_n” _builder_version=”4.27.2″ _module_preset=”default” width=”100%” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Thinking Faith Through Theology<\/strong><\/p>\n Across lectures, theological conversations, fora, and encounters with students and faculty, the academic visit opened space for reflection on questions deeply relevant to Mindanao and the wider world: How can people of different faiths better understand one another? What happens when religious traditions meet within families and communities? How can theology respond to injustice, social change, and artificial intelligence? And how can faith be examined critically while remaining grounded in lived experience?<\/em><\/p>\n On 2 September 2026, the University held a Theological Forum at the 11\/F Calungsod-San Vitores Jesuit-Lay Collaboration Center, Community Center of the First Companions.<\/p>\n With the topic \u201cWhy Study Theology? The Sense of Thinking Faith,\u201d the forum invited participants to consider theology not simply as an academic discipline, but as a way of examining faith through prayer, reflection, experience, history, and engagement with the world.<\/p>\n In the opening message, Dr. Roawie L. Quimba, Chairperson of the Department of Theology, welcomed the visiting lecturers and participants and set the tone for the discussion by inviting the community to reflect on why theology continues to matter in contemporary life.<\/p>\n In his presentation, Fr. K\u00f6rner reflected on the different ways faith may be thought through, prayed through, contemplated, and lived. He drew from the life of Fr. Alfred Delp, SJ, a German Jesuit who was executed in 1945 after resisting the Nazi regime. Fr. Delp\u2019s life became a point of reflection on faith under pressure, human dignity, trust, and the pursuit of a more just and humane society.<\/p>\n Mr. Do\u011fan also offered insights from his work as both a sociologist and theologian, particularly on ethics and relationships across religious traditions.<\/p>\n The conversation continued with reflections from ADDU Theology faculty members. Mr. Danilo S. Agustin Jr. reflected on the idea of \u201cdangerous memory,\u201d calling attention to the responsibility to remember those who resisted injustice and whose sacrifices continue to challenge succeeding generations. Mr. Niel John G. Capidos spoke of faith as fundamentally dialogical and connected this understanding to the continuing work of peacebuilding and reconciliation in Mindanao.<\/p>\n Ms. Marlina T. Dayrit closed the session by inviting participants to carry Christian hope into contemporary realities and recalling the call to build peace through justice and love.<\/p>\n The forum placed theological reflection alongside history, interreligious dialogue, and lived social realities. It invited students and educators to consider how remembering the past can shape present responses to injustice, reconciliation, and peace.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ _builder_version=”4.27.2″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”50px||50px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.27.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”http:\/\/international.addu.edu.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Fr.-Felix-3-scaled.jpg” title_text=”Fr. Felix 3″ _builder_version=”4.27.2″ _module_preset=”default” width=”100%” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.27.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”http:\/\/international.addu.edu.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Mr.-Mansur-2-scaled.jpg” title_text=”Mr. Mansur 2″ _builder_version=”4.27.2″ _module_preset=”default” width=”100%” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Faith, Family, and Interreligious Encounters<\/strong><\/p>\n The discussions then turned to one of the most personal spaces in which different religious traditions meet: the family.<\/p>\n On 4 September 2026, Mr. Do\u011fan delivered a lecture at the Bapa Benny Tudtud Auditorium on \u201cInterfaith Marriages.\u201d The discussion explored questions of religious identity, practice, ethical responsibility, and mutual understanding. He drew from verses of the Qur\u2019an and Islamic perspectives on marriage and relationships across religious communities. The lecture brought theological questions into the everyday realities of relationships, families, and communities.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ _builder_version=”4.27.2″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”50px||50px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.27.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”http:\/\/international.addu.edu.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/793593951_2033107033983300_2532426086195188402_n.jpg” title_text=”793593951_2033107033983300_2532426086195188402_n” _builder_version=”4.27.2″ _module_preset=”default” width=”100%” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.27.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”http:\/\/international.addu.edu.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/794869128_1092634273273987_5854472405576378967_n.jpg” title_text=”794869128_1092634273273987_5854472405576378967_n” _builder_version=”4.27.2″ _module_preset=”default” width=”100%” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n The following day, 5 September 2026, the Ignatian Institute of Religious Education Foundation, Inc. (IIREF), together with the ADDU Department of Theology and in partnership with the AIM Office, convened a theological conversation at Holy Cross of Davao College on \u201cInterfaith Dialogue: New Principles, Problems, and Prospects.”<\/p>\n The visiting lecturers explored how religious traditions understand one another, how Christians may think about other religions within God\u2019s history of salvation, and how people of different faiths can work together in theological reflection and in responding to shared social concerns.<\/p>\n Rather than presenting dialogue as the simple avoidance of disagreement, the conversation also addressed its complexities. Participants were invited to reflect on questions of faith, identity, difference, truth, and shared responsibility, as well as on the possibilities that emerge when communities approach these differences through serious listening and theological reflection.<\/p>\n The second week of the academic engagements formed part of the University\u2019s Theology Days, during which Fr. K\u00f6rner and Mr. Do\u011fan led special lectures that served as alternative class sessions.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.27.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ _builder_version=”4.27.2″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”50px||50px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.27.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”http:\/\/international.addu.edu.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/801354974_1738034500824546_8952682024186764206_n.jpeg” title_text=”801354974_1738034500824546_8952682024186764206_n” _builder_version=”4.27.2″ _module_preset=”default” width=”100%” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.27.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”http:\/\/international.addu.edu.ph\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/801354979_1605702487575001_415658585220443197_n.jpeg” title_text=”801354979_1605702487575001_415658585220443197_n” _builder_version=”4.27.2″ _module_preset=”default” width=”100%” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.2″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n