Last December 10, 2011, the Mother Teresa Prize was presented in memory of Chiara Lubich as an expression of the admiration, the affection, and the gratitude of the European Movements for Life to Ms. Lubich whose feminine genius promoted the message about a love that unites everywhere. The award was handed over to Maria Voce, president of the Focolare Movement. The ceremony took place in Campidoglio, Rome’s City Hall, with interventions from the mayor and other personalities.

The award consists of the reproduction of a bronze statue that the Italian Movement for Life gave to the European Council the day after the fall of the Berlin Wall. This work of art entitled “Hymn to Life,” by sculptor Sauro Cavallini, carries at its base the words: “May love be the hope of Europe.” This European Prize is awarded every year on December to commemorate the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which was signed exactly on December 10, 1948. That declaration – Paul VI remarked in his visit to the U.N. – represents the highest thing ever produced by human wisdom. The Prize is European because Europe was born first of all as a place of human dignity and of peace, even before becoming an economic community. It is thus a reminder to Europe of its original inspiration and true dignity.

From the Movement for Life The reason for the award was expressed at the opening ceremony by the President of the Movement for Life, Carlo Casini, who highlighted the “limpid and constant defense and promotion of the right to life” that Chiara Lubich practiced and always promoted in the vast horizon of love for every person. The actions and support that Chiara Lubich gave to the Movement for Life ever since its birth were also underlined.

Also present were representatives of the Movements for Life from 15 European countries. The mayor of Rome, Gianni Alemanno, underlined how, “these two women with their profound lives have expressed the ideals of this Declaration of 1948. He announced that he has already started the process for the dedication of a street in the capital to Chiara Lubich.

The president of the Focolare Movement then explained how Chiara Lubich’s thrust to work for the safeguarding of human rights has its source in the love for God and the love for all persons, each person: “All persons are children of God and therefore brothers to one another; and Chiara worked so that universal brotherhood may be realized in the world. She did this for over 60 years, not so much by openly proclaiming human rights but rather by provoking in as many men and women as possible, an evangelical style of life, which has as a consequence the respect for all people and their rights.” The awarding of the Prize in 2011 is in its third edition. In the first edition (2008) the Prize was given in memory of Jerome Lejeune for his work in the field of genetics, in the second edition (2010) it was given to Eduardo Veràstegui for the film “Bella”.

The “Mother Teresa of Calcutta” European prize was also mentioned by Pope Benedict XVI at the end of the Angelus on Sunday, December 11, as he greeted the representatives of the Movement for Life from Europe who came for the awarding ceremony.

Focolare Information Service (FIS)