The prize Cardinal François-Xavier Nguyên Van Thuân, awarded by St Matthew’s foundation to people and institutions who have distinguished themselves by their solidarity and adhesion to the Church’s social doctrine, will be bestowed by Cardinal Renato R. Martino, President of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, in the Paul XVI hall (Vatican) on December 10, on the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The "Cardinal Van Thuan 2008" prize will be awarded to Cornelio Sammaruga, former President of the International Committee of the Red Cross (CICR) from 1987 to 1999. Two other priests and two institutions will be awarded "Cardinal Van Thuan Solidarity and Development 2008" prize: Argentine priest Pedro Opeka, who promoted the project Akamasoa to give shelter to homeless people in Tananarivo (Madagascar), and Father José Raúl Matte, a Camillian priest and a doctor who has devoted his life to the assistance of lepers in Amazonia. The project Gulunap, Faculty of Medicine at Gulu (Northern Uganda), in co-operation with the University Federico II of Naples and the project "Gruppo Ercolini-Villaggio degli Ercolini" for socio-cultural integration of young gypsy in Rome, will also receive the award. The St Matthew’s foundation in memory of Cardinal Van Thuân, who died in 2002 at the age of 74, is supporting initiatives that are encouraging the Catholic Church’s presence in many fields of society. ” ” ” “
