On 15 Nov. 2015, Dr. Stefano Iorifrida, President of the Anassilaos Cultural Association, based in Reggio Calabria, awarded the Institute of the Daughters of St. Paul its 2015 John Paul II Peace Prize for the Congregation’s commitment to promoting peace through evangelization in the world of communications.
In accepting the prestigious award, FSP Superior General Sr. Anna Maria Parenzan said that since we are celebrating the Year of the Consecrated Life, she wanted to dedicate the prize to all women religious throughout the world, citing some particularly “Pauline” zones in which our sisters are striving to carry out a mission of reconciliation among the peoples. Two of the areas she mentioned were Juba, South Sudan, where, in spite of the war-torn condition of the country, the members of our small community continue to disseminate messages of peace and reconciliation by means of their radio programs, and also Pakistan, where our sisters are taking advantage of every opportunity to promote peace, inter-religious dialogue, reconciliation and the cause of women.
Many renowned individuals and distinguished Institutes/Associations have received the John Paul II Peace Prize since its institution in 2005, including Bishop Michel Sabbah, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem; the Franciscan Custody of the Holy Land; the Procurator General of the St. Philip Neri Oratory; Gennadios Zervos, Orthodox Metropolitan of Italy and Malta; the St. Egidio Community; Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, the Vatican’s Secretary of State from 2006-2013; Archbishop Vittorio Mondello of Reggio Calabria; Archbishop Salvatore Nunnari of Cosenza; and Bishop Francesco Milito of Oppido-Palmi. In 2014, the award was conferred on the Italian Red Cross, which was celebrating its 150th anniversary of foundation.