On 25 October 2020 the “Riconoscimento Giovanni Paolo” (John Paul Award) was held in Bisceglie, in Apulia. The event, which was first organized in 2012, is aimed at commemorating the Holy Polish Pontiff.
The award is given to men and women from the secular and ecclesiastical community who have distinguished themselves in the name and memory of Karol Wojtyla for religious, cultural, civil and humanitarian reasons.
In the 2015 edition the prize was awarded to H.R.H. Prince Emanuele Filiberto of Savoy, who, while recalling the significant charitable activities carried out by the Orders, told of his meetings with John Paul II and the emotions he felt as he met the Pontiff.
From that moment on, an important relationship was forged between the organizers of the event and the Apulia Delegation of the Dynastic Orders of the House of Savoy, in light of the significant role played in spreading the values of which the Polish saint was a symbol and an example.
In this annual event, an active part is played by young people and children from local schools, who take part in the John Paul II competition each year by writing a theme-based composition (on topics such as respect of the law, social integration and others).
The Apulia Delegation of the Dynastic Orders of the House of Savoy has long wished to support this initiative by awarding a scholarship to a group of schoolchildren who win the competition, in memory of the friendly relations that existed between the members of the House of Savoy and John Paul II, as well as bearing witness to the bond with the younger generations.
At the end of the religious ceremony celebrated by His eminence Rev. Card. Giuseppe Petrocchi, Avv. Angelo Gadaleta, Delegate for Apulia and Basilicata of the Dynastic Orders of the House of Savoy , presented the 2020 scholarship to the group who won the competition based on the following theme: “The secret of true peace lies in the respect of human rights”.
The awarding of this scholarship testifies to the Delegation’s commitment to local communities, despite the difficulties and limitations imposed by the Covid-19 pandemic.
