Peace brought everyone together at the Catholic University “Our Lady of Good Counsel”, and, for the first time, on the initiative and with the exceptional support of the “Our Lady of Good Counsel” Foundation, the Peace Prize was awarded in Albania.
As emphasized by the President of the ZKM Foundation, Fr. Ruggero Valentini, it is particularly important in the turbulent times we live in to speak about peace and to establish an award dedicated to this theme.
Welcoming numerous high-ranking religious and academic authorities, the President of ZKM opened a special ceremony, which culminated in the awarding of the Peace Prize, for the first time, to Nihad Suljić, in recognition of his ongoing humanitarian commitment and his contribution to the community for social peace, and to the “Joint History Books Project”, for their long-term educational work aimed at promoting mutual understanding and reconciliation.
The international meeting, moderated by the Director of CESPIC, Prof. Raul Caruso, was attended by H.E. Mirosław Adamczyk, Apostolic Nuncio to Albania; the Archbishop of Tirana, Durrës, and all of Albania, Arjan Dodaj; His Eminence, the Metropolitan of Berat, Vlora, and Kanina, Asti; Mr. Asti; Dr. Luisa Chiodi, Director of the Balkans and Caucasus Observatory (CCT); Prof. Alessandro Saggioro, Sapienza University of Rome; Roberto Lupi, President of the Institute of the Schools of San Martino in Florence; and others.
The international meeting highlighted the crucial role that efforts for peace play in today’s world and the inspiration that comes from examples such as Nihad or the book project, which aim to educate new generations in tolerance, coexistence, and the necessity of a peaceful approach when facing difficulties and challenges.
