Father Khaled Anatolios, the John A. O'Brien Professor of Theology and senior ecumenical fellow in Notre Dame鈥檚 Tantur Ecumenical Institute, has been appointed by Pope Leo XIV to the Vatican鈥檚 International Theological Commission.
Established under Pope Paul VI in 1969, the commission is composed of 30 scholars from across the globe who are appointed for five year terms. Members are tasked with examining doctrinal questions of great importance and advising the Pope and the Holy See through the Dicastery for the Doctrine of Faith.
Anatolios, a Melkite Catholic priest, is the third Notre Dame theologian to serve on the commission, following Yury Avaakamov who was appointed in 2021 and John Cavadini, appointed in 2009.
鈥淥ur Department of Theology at Notre Dame is overjoyed that our colleague Father Khaled Anatolios has been chosen by Pope Leo XIV to serve on this commission,鈥� said , the Wilsey College Professor of Theology and chair of the department. 鈥淚t is a sign of what Father Khaled鈥檚 colleagues all know, namely that he does the highest level of theology, always in service to God and God鈥檚 people, the Church.
鈥淧ope St. John Paul II exhorted the Church to 鈥榖reathe with both lungs,鈥� meaning to draw on both Western and Eastern theological resources. By choosing Father Khaled, a Melkite priest whose Byzantine Catholic Church is in communion with the Roman Catholic Church, Pope Leo XIV has continued to help our Church 鈥榖reathe with both lungs.鈥欌��
Anatolios, who is also a faculty fellow of the University鈥檚 Medieval Institute, is an expert in the history of Christianity and the theology of the early Church. His research focuses on a variety of early Christian theologians and, in particular, the engagement between early Christian theological reflection and contemporary theological concerns.
鈥淚 am humbled by the trust of Pope Leo and the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith in appointing me,鈥� he said. 鈥淭his is an exciting opportunity to serve the global Church in collaboration with a globally diverse representation of eminent theologians. It will be a great honor to represent Our Lady鈥檚 University in this capacity.鈥�
Anatolios joined Notre Dame鈥檚 Department of Theology in 2015 and served as its chair from 2023 to 2026. He holds a bachelor鈥檚 degree and master鈥檚 degree from the University of Toronto and a doctoral degree in theology from Boston College.
Media contact: Erin Blasko, director of media engagement, 574-631-4127, eblasko@nd.edu