The Institute of Missiology Missio e.V. (MWI) was founded in 1971 on the initiative of the International Mission Society missio-Aachen as an independent association. In 1972 it was confirmed by the German Bishops’ Conference and in 1978 recognised by the Congregation for the Evangelization of the Peoples in Rome. Being the fruit of Vatican II and the world-church awakenings resulting thereof, the Institute should promote academia, research and teaching in Catholic mission work.   

Since its beginnings the Institute has been known for the characteristic that it is not only active in research and teaching areas, but also maintains a project department and is, therefore, in a position to support financially theological and philosophical projects in the Young Churches of the South. In the 30 years since its founding the MWI has been able to support more than 600 young people from the Third World by means of a scholarship for theological or philosophical postgraduate courses, has made possible or itself carried out countless conferences and symposia, has built up academic libraries, subsidised publications, has made possible an exchange of professors and carried out research projects. We are grateful for these wide-ranging activities and the privilege of being able to make a contribution towards the colourful mosaic of the diverse World Church. 

As research projects of the MWI (1971-2009) we can mention: 

• The unity of the World Church in the variety of independent Local Churches; 
• The reception of the Communio-Ecclesiology in African Local Churches;
• Theologies in the social and cultural history of Latin America;
• Religious experiences in the context of capitalist globalization – options for life from the viewpoint of the “victims”;
• Theology, culture and society in Cuba; World surveys on the situation of Philosophy and Theology at the end of the 20^th century;
• Conflict situations, cultures and Christian experiences;
• Reform of the curricula in Theology and Philosophy;
• Theology and migration
• Aids  
• Plurale Wirklichkeit Gemeinde