Gianluigi Prato, “Father” of Old Testament Conferences

On 2nd of November, Prof. Gianluigi Prato passed away. An entire life dedicated to the teaching of Scripture: Hebrew and Old Testament at the Gregorian University of Rome, Hebrew language and Judaism at the University of Naples Federico II, at the University of Rome Tre and at the University of Trento. He gave ABI time, skills, and friendship. His figure is linked to the 40-year conception and animation of the conferences of the Old Testamentarians and Semitists, whose Acts are collected first in the Rivista biblica (Biblical Journal) then in Ricerche storico bibliche (Biblical Historical Research), specially created for the purpose. Born in 1979 with the first conference held in Pallanza, for years they have been the place to converge skills, intelligence and approaches so as to overcome barriers and mistrust between the world of Italian biblical scholars and the secular university world, both Italian and international. For years he has been a collaborator and consultant of the San Paolo Publishing Group (Italy), and has contributed to the formation of several Pauline biblical scholars.

To Gianluigi Prato our gratitude and prayer.