We are pleased to announce that this year’s St. John Paul II Award (Premio San Giovanni Paolo II) will be conferred upon Archbishop Jacques Mourad of Syria. Since 2024, this award has been presented by the John Paul II Vatican Foundation.
The Award Committee, chaired by Cardinal Kurt Koch, wishes to honour Archbishop Mourad for his “extraordinary witness of faith and Christian charity, his tireless commitment to interreligious dialogue, and his dedication to the cause of peacebuilding.”
The award ceremony will take place on 18 October at the Vatican.
In 2015, Archbishop Mourad was kidnapped by ISIS militants, imprisoned, tortured, and pressured to renounce his Catholic faith. He survived thanks to the courage of his Muslim friends, whom he had previously helped—friends who risked their lives to secure his release. Even in the face of extreme suffering, with gentleness and determination, he inspired hope among the faithful and earned the respect of even his persecutors. His life is a testament to faith and courage and a symbol of peace.
More information is available on the award’s official website.
