The John XXIII Foundation for Religious Studies of Bologna is a research institution with one of the largest libraries in Europe in the field of religious history, which publishes, educates, serves, organizes, hosts and communicates research in the field of religious studies, with particular attention to Christianity and the religions with which it has been in contact.

The initiatives started in 1953 developed into the actual Foundation, recognized by Decree of the President of the Republic of Italy, with a research staff of some twenty people. The Foundation is in convention with the University of Bologna, other universities and research centres worldwide, participates in international networks, operates in full autonomy of the churches and is partner of the Italian Biographical Dictionary, produced by the Istituto della Enciclopedia Italiana Treccani. Italian banks, foundations, international charities and the Italian state have generously supported the funding of our research activities.

The Foundation intends to continue the activity of scientific research in religious history started by Giuseppe Dossetti (1913-1996), who has been one of the fathers of the Italian Constitution, later peritus at the Second Vatican Council and founder of a monastic community. His initiative developed under the presidency of the widely known politician and economist Beniamino Andreatta (1928-2007) and thanks the intellectual passion of Giuseppe Alberigo (1926-2007), who has been for nearly fifty years soul and motor of the Foundation, and is now directed by Alberto Melloni and presided by Valerio Onida, former President of the Italian Supreme Court. In 2003, the Foundation was granted the UNESCO Chair John XXIII for Religious Pluralism and Peace of the Bologna University.