Press release of the Paris Lodron University of Salzburg (PLUS) from 7 June 2021

Invitation to the launch of the Templar Network

Thursday, 10 June, 6.30 pm, in the courtyard of the Faculty of Law, Churfürststraße 1. (weather dependent, otherwise in HS 230).

The Order of the Knights Templar was dissolved by Pope Clement V in the 14th century. Whether this dissolution was legal was often disputed. Researchers at the University of Salzburg studied archived documents that had previously been kept under lock and key, as well as the bones of the only Grand Master, whose grave was found again. The results of this research have caught the attention of politicians and the Church. The Holy See has also shown great interest in these recent findings.

The legal historian Daniele Mattiangeli and the bioarchaeologist Jan Cemper-Kieslich from the Department of Forensic Medicine and Forensic Neuropsychiatry at the University of Salzburg are now founding the “Salzburg International Templar Studies Network”, which will be launched next Thursday. Archbishop Franz Lackner, Member of Parliament Dr Josef Schöchl, Rector Hendrik Lehnert and the Grand Master of the Templari Cattolici d’Italia Giorgio Ferretti will attend the opening ceremony. Giorgio Ferretti is Grand Master of the largest Templar association with around 12,000 members. His association oversees and supports the work of numerous parishes in Italy.

The Salzburg researchers are the only group in the world to have received such support for their work on the Order of the Temple. The City and Province of Salzburg, the Archdiocese of Salzburg and the Holy See, represented by the Pontifical Committee for Historical Sciences, have taken on official patronage. “This patronage has made it possible for us to launch a unique research network,” says Mattiangeli. The researchers have now gained unrestricted access to the Vatican Secret Archives and the Vatican Library for all members of the network. Any other research results will be made available to the papal commission. The commission will record these findings and decide on a possible historical rehabilitation of the Order.

Media representatives are cordially invited to the event! The 3-G rule applies. Please do not forget your mask.

Contact:

Priv.-Doz. Dr. Daniele Mattiangeli, LL.M (Rome)
University of Salzburg, Austria
Division of Private Law
Tel.: +43 662 8044 3072