On 7th June the “Path to Peace” Foundation bestowed the 2011 annual award to Fra’ Matthew Festing, Prince and Grand Master of the Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of St. John of Jerusalem of Rhodes and of Malta. The announcement of the recipient of this year’s award was made by Archbishop Francis Chullikatt, Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations, and President of the Foundation.

The award was received on behalf of the Grand Master, who was on a state visit to Romania, by the Grand Commander of the Order of Malta, Fra’ Gherardo Hercolani Fava Simonetti.

The Path to Peace Foundation was established in 1991 by Cardinal Renato Raffaele Martino, during his tenure as Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations in New York, with the aim of complementing and supporting the religious, cultural, humanitarian and charitable efforts of the Permanent Mission of the Holy See to the UN.

In 2005 Fra’ Andrew Bertie, 78th Prince and Grand Master of the Order of Malta was bestowed with the “Path to Peace” Award.

Among the award winners in previous years were Cardinal Angelo Sodano, the Vatican Secretary of State, President Xanana Gusmao of East Timor, King Simeon Saxe-Coburg Gotha of Bulgaria, Prince Hans Adam II of Liechtenstein, the King of the Belgians, King Baudoin I, Lech Walesa of Poland and Boutros Boutros-Ghali, UN Secretary General.