On May 22, 2024, the inaugural “Premio San Giovanni Paolo II” award, established by the Vatican’s John Paul II Foundation, was presented in the Royal Hall of the Apostolic Palace at the Vatican.
The statuette, crafted by Polish sculptor Karolina Koch, depicts outstretched hands inspired by Michelangelo’s fresco “The Creation of Adam.” It was awarded to Fr. Leonard Olobo, director of the award-winning center, by Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin. Cardinal Kurt Koch, chairman of the Saint John Paul II Award Council, presented the commemorative diploma. Additionally, the laureate received a financial award of €30,000.
Founded in 2006, the John Paul II Center was established in response to John Paul II’s post-synodal apostolic exhortation “Ecclesia in Africa.” The center is supported by seven religious orders, including the Combonians, Jesuits, Mill Hill Missionaries, Missionaries of the Holy Cross (to which Fr. Olobo belongs), and Missionaries of Africa.
The center aids refugees from conflict-ridden countries in the region, implementing programs that address a variety of issues such as human trafficking prevention, education, access to water, food, and electricity, support for street children in Kampala, and providing legal and medical assistance, as well as financial aid.
Rev. Leonard Olobo expressed surprise at receiving the award, stating, “We simply did what we thought was right, driven by a conviction to promote human dignity. This recognition motivates us to continue the work inspired by St. John Paul II.”
The award selection process is governed by strict regulations. The Chapter, comprising ex officio and elected members, is responsible for selecting the winner. Each Chapter member may nominate one or two candidates. The selection involves a vetting and discussion phase, culminating in a final decision.
The Chapter consists of 13 members, including six Poles: Cardinal Stanislaw Dziwisz, Archbishop Marek Jędraszewski, Bishop Sławomir Oder, Father Michal Paluch OP, Msgr. Pawel Ptasznik, and Prof. Hanna Suchocka. The chairman is Cardinal Kurt Koch. Other members include Sister Helen Alford (dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences at the Pontifical Angelicum University and president of the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences), Prof. Carl Anderson (Order of the Knights of Columbus), Prof. Daniel Arasa (dean of the Faculty of Institutional Social Communication at the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross), Prof. Michaela C. Hastetter (chair of pastoral theology and religious education at the ITI Catholic University in Trumau, and lecturer at the University of Albert-Ludwig in Freiburg), Prof. Roberto Morozzo della Rocca (associate professor of modern history at Roma Tre University), and Prof. Paul Weston (lecturer at the Vatican School of Library Science since 1985).
