Premio San Giovanni Paolo II

PREMIO SAN GIOVANNI PAOLO II

The Premio promotes knowledge of the thought and work of St John Paul II, as well as his influence on the life of the Church and on various areas of human activity, including culture, society, politics and the economy.

ABOUT THE AWARD

The Premio San Giovanni Paolo II was established to promote knowledge of the thought and work of St John Paul II, as well as his influence on the life of the Church and on various areas of human activity, including culture, society, politics and the economy. It is awarded by the John Paul II Vatican Foundation, based in Rome, at least once every two years.

Premio San Giovanni Paolo II award statuette

The award has an international scope and honours individuals and institutions that excel in academic, artistic, cultural, educational and social fields, promoting the values and ideas reflected in the teaching of St John Paul II.

The award recognises and supports individuals who continue to develop the spiritual and intellectual legacy of St John Paul II, thereby contributing to community well-being and the common good.

The hall during the Premio San Giovanni Paolo II award ceremony

The laureate is selected by the Award Committee in accordance with the rules set out in the regulations. The Committee comprises ex officio members as well as persons appointed by the Foundation. The Committee reviews the submitted nominations and, through a joint decision, identifies the person or institution whose work particularly reflects and develops the legacy of St John Paul II.

The award includes a cash prize of €30,000. The amount may change.

It is very good that the John Paul II Vatican Foundation has decided to establish an award that allows us each year to recall some aspect of this legacy.

Prof. Michał Paluch OP, Rome, 2026

Archbishop Jacques (Julian Yacoub) MOURAD

John Paul II Justice and Peace Centre

AWARD CHAPTER

The Award Chapter consists of distinguished individuals – cardinals, bishops, professors and experts from various fields – who command great moral and intellectual authority.

Card. Kurt Koch

Chair of the Award Chapter of the John Paul II Vatican Foundation. Prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity since 2022.

Card. Stanisław Dziwisz

Secretary to Pope John Paul II from 1978–2005, Metropolitan Archbishop of Kraków from 2005–2016, Cardinal Priest since 2006. Knight of the Order of the White Eagle.

Card. Grzegorz Ryś

Metropolitan of Kraków since 2025, previously Metropolitan of Łódź and Auxiliary Bishop of Kraków. Cardinal since 2023. Member of the Dicastery for Bishops and the Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments.

Bishop Sławomir Oder Doctor

Doctor of Both Laws (J.C.D.), Bishop of the Diocese of Gliwice, postulator of the beatification and canonisation process of St John Paul II.

Prof. Helen Alford Dean

Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences at the Pontifical University of St Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum), President of the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences.

Prof. Carl Anderson

Lawyer, 13th Supreme Knight of the Knights of Columbus, elected in 2000. He previously served as Assistant Supreme Secretary and Supreme Secretary.

Prof. Daniel Arasa

Dean of the Faculty of Institutional Social Communication at the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross (Santa Croce). Consultant to the Dicastery for Communication.

Prof. Michaela C. Hastetter

Theologian, holds a chair in pastoral theology and religious education at ITI Catholic University in Trumau and teaches at the Albert Ludwig University of Freiburg (Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg).

Prof. Roberto Morozzo della Rocca

Associate Professor of Contemporary History at Roma Tre University. In recent years, he has focused on the study of war and peace in 20th-century Europe, Africa and Latin America.

Prof. Michał Paluch

Dominican friar and lecturer at the Pontifical University of St Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum) in Rome, Master of Sacred Theology since 23 June 2023.

Msgr. Paweł Ptasznik

Close collaborator of John Paul II and Benedict XVI. From 2001 to 2022, he was responsible for the Polish section of the Vatican Secretariat of State. Since 2007, he has served as rector of the Church of St Stanislaus Bishop and Martyr in Rome.