VATICAN - Pope John Paul II will be awarded Aachen City Charlemagne Prize for great European Achievement 2004 in the Vatican on 24 March

Tuesday, 23 March 2004

Vatican City (Fides Service) - Next Wednesday, 24 March, an extraordinary Charlemagne Prize, one of the highest European honours - will be awarded to His Holiness Pope John Paul II in Rome to pay tribute to his outstanding life's work promoting European understanding in the service of humanity and world peace. “The award goes to not only a great European figure but to a tireless promoter of a culture of respect, dialogue and justice”, Rev. Hermann Schalück national director of Pontifical Mission Societies Germany told Fides with regard to the Award to the Pope. “By firmly condemning terrorism and violence and also with his message for World Peace Day this year, the Pope urges us to strive to meet those who have different points of view and to overcome conflict with dialogue and reconciliation. By conferring this award on Pope John Paul II the jury not only honours the Holy Father, it encourages all Europeans to follow his example to courageously work to overcome conflict between different religions and cultures to look to broader horizons”. Rev. Schalück says he was also happy that the jury also mentions the Pope’s contribution to overcoming the “cold war”.
The International Charlemagne Prize is given in recognition of services to European peace and unity. It was established by the City of Aachen in Western Germany in 1949 - at a time when the city was in ruins having been all but destroyed in the closing months of the Second World War. Named after the Aachen-born 8th Century Emperor Charlemagne, as a "great founder of Western Culture," the prize marks Germany's commitment to a harmonious post-war continent. It has become one of the most prestigious European honours. The official criteria for the prize is that it awarded for contributions fostering mutual understanding among European peoples. Although it can be awarded for literary, scientific, economic or political endeavour, the prize has frequently been given to European leaders noted for their commitment to achieving post-war harmony on the continent. Previous Charlemagne Prize winners include Jean Monnet, Konrad Adenauer, Winston Churchill, George Marshall, and more recently, the award was given to the President of the European Convention Valéry Giscard d’Estaing in 2003.
Exceptionally in 2004, the Charlemagne Prize - will be awarded twice. Pat Cox MEP, President of the European Parliament, will receive the International Charlemagne Prize on Ascension Day, 20 May 2004, in Aachen City Hall in Germany. The prize is being awarded in recognition of the President's contribution to European integration and, in particular, his work in securing the historic enlargement which will take place on May 1st this year. MS. (Agenzia Fides, 23/3/2004 - 34 righe, 356 parole)


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