Renowned Vatican Latinist Fr. Reginald Foster dies on Christmas Day

By Vatican News staff writer

Fr. Reginald Foster, a friar of the Discalced Carmelite Order, passed away on Friday at the age of 81.

Originally from Milwaukee in the US state of Wisconsin, Fr. Reginald spent almost 40 years as one of the Vatican’s foremost experts in the Latin language. He worked in the Latin Letters section of the Secretariat of State from 1970 until his retirement in 2009.

The ‘Latin-lover’

Fr. Reginald became known on Vatican Radio as the “Latin-lover”.

He frequently graced our frequencies with his wit and wisdom in interviews conducted by Veronica Scarisbrick.

Yet, his radio personality was eminently informed by his years of experience as the Latinist of the Popes.

‘Living’ language

Fr. Reginald also received global acclaim for his unique pedagogical method and his presentation of Latin as a living language.

Generations of students, as well as Vatican Radio listeners, fell in love with the classical language through his guiding hand.

He taught for years at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome, and held an annual Aestiva Romae Latinitas, always offered free-of-charge.

In 2010, the University of Notre Dame awarded Fr. Reginald an honorary Doctorate for his contribution to Latin studies.