Pax Christi prize for peace, 2005

The 2005 Pax Christi Prize was awarded to Jacques Delors in Brussels on Monday 31 October in the presence of numerous dignitaries, including Cardinal Danneels, former president of Pax Christi, Mr Etienne De Jonghe, secretary general of Pax Christi, and Michel Sabbah, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem and president of Pax Christi.

In his speech, the Patriarch recalled that “the Steering Committee of Pax Christi International and the Cardinal Alfrink Foundation – a foundation established in honour of one of the first presidents and donors of the Peace Prize – have decided to award the 2005 Prize to Mr Jacques Delors, former President of the European Commission, in recognition of his efforts to create lasting peace and stability in Europe through the construction of an open, social and peaceful European Union. The decision to award this prize to Mr Delors is closely linked to the celebration of the movement’s 60th anniversary. The year 2005 not only marks the 60th anniversary of the end of the Second World War and the founding of the United Nations; it also invites our movement to remember its origins…‘ Addressing Mr Delors, the Patriarch went on to recall that ’in 1992, you stated that – If in ten years’ time we have not succeeded in giving Europe a soul, a spirituality and a meaning, the die will be cast – here we are in 2005 and the game is not over; your appeal to churches and religious groups to help give Europe a soul is still highly relevant. Your appeal was linked to support for the activities of churches and religious organisations committed to the construction and integration of Europe and has clearly stimulated interfaith dialogue, which is more necessary than ever for the future.”