2016 (EN)

On the occasion of the twentieth anniversary of the "Mediterranean Prize" was held the ceremony of the award of the "Mediterranean Prize 2016 – Special Edition for the Education of Peace", attributed to the major rector of the Salesians, Don Ángel Fernández Artime, Grand Chancellor Of the UPS, in the presence of the President of the Senate Pietro Grasso.

Considered among the most significant internationally, the prize of the "Fondazione Mediterraneo" was awarded in previous editions to important personalities such as King Juan Carlos of Spain, King Hussein of Jordan, Presidents Anibal Cavao Silva and Abu Mazen, Leah Rabin, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem FouadTwal, Cardinal Carlo Maria Martini, Cardinal Roger Etchegaray, and others.
In the motivations read by the president of the Fondazione Mediterraneo Prof. Michele Capasso-who with Pia Molinari delivered the prize-reads:

"For the activity in favour of peace and concord among the peoples of the world, carried out by the Salesian family, especially in the places where the war rages: Here the Salesians are often the only point of reference for men and women belonging to different faiths. The rector major Don Ángel Fernández Artime is a true ' peacemaker '; With his role as guide and master of the entire Salesian family-the Salesians, the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians and the cooperators-nourishes and spreads with humility and complicity the hope in the young people who have to confront life as ' hunters of the positive ' and Spreading the ' true ', the ' beautiful ' and the ' good ' as the foundation of civil, religious and social life. "

The major Rector expressed his gratitude on behalf of the whole Salesian family and Don Bosco for the prestigious recognition, considering it a "prize for the Future": even more imbued with the "Paul" for the Young, "Hunters of the positive".
The ceremony took place during the inauguration of the new academic year (2016-2017) of the Pontifical Salesian University (UPS), in the presence of a delegation of approximately 2000 students from 100 nations and ambassadors from various countries.
The prize awarded is the "Totem of Peace" by sculptor Mario Molinari.