This year the Charlemagne Prize, also known as ‘Oscar in Politics’, has been awarded to the Holy Father for his moral authority in defending the fundamental values of the EU – peace, freedom, human rights, and democracy.
As stated in the communiqué on the International Charlemagne Prize award, the Pope sends a message of mercy and tolerance and underlines the need for European unity and solidarity.
The Charlemagne Prize, which was established in the post-war period, is one of the highest political awards conferred by the people of the German city of Aachen in recognition of special merits to European unity and to strengthening the ties of friendship between nations. In Europe, which was devastated by World War II, the award became a symbol of solidarity and mutual understanding.
In 2013, this prestigious award was presented to President Dalia Grybauskaitė for her contribution to the unity and economic stability of the whole of Europe and her strong leadership in tackling the difficult financial crisis.
In the past, the Charlemagne Prize was awarded to Pope John Paul II, the founding fathers of the European Union – Jean Monnet, Konrad Adenauer and Robert Schuman, Great Britain’s Prime Minister Winston S. Churchill, U.S. President Bill Clinton, Czech humanist and President Vaclav Havel, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands, and many other prominent politicians.
