VATICAN CITY, SEPT. 23, 2009 (Zenit.org).- Benedict XVI today was given the last volume of the New Catholic Encyclopedia in Japanese, the final part of a 30-year project.
The «precious gift» was given him by Archbishop Giuseppe Pittau, director of the administrative council of the Sofia University of Tokyo, Vatican Radio reported.
With the April 21 publication of the fourth volume, the work of nearly 30 years and more than 6,000 pages has been completed.
The Sofia University has supported the project, in the framework of the 100th anniversary of its foundation by the Society of Jesus, which will be celebrated in 2013.
The project, undertaken in 1981, updates the previous edition from 1960 and incorporates new content, especially from the Second Vatican Council.
