Pope confers human rights award on Czech bishop, Polish intellectual

Published: 2005-10-18

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Benedict XVI presented an international human rights award to a Czech bishop and a Polish intellectual who were dedicated Catholic activists during the period of communism in their respective countries. Auxiliary Bishop Vaclav Maly of Prague, Czech Republic, and Stefan Wilkanowicz of Krakow, Poland, received the John Paul II Prize in a private audience with Pope Benedict at the Vatican Oct. 16. The date to confer the award was chosen to celebrate the 27th anniversary of Pope John Paul's election. The prize, dedicated to the late Polish-born pope, was established in 2003 by the Institute of Human Rights of Oswiecim, Poland. Oswiecim is the town where the Nazi death camp of Auschwitz was located. The honorary award pays tribute to "the people that practice John Paul II's philosophy of human rights and develop this philosophy" in their fields of activity, said a statement released by the Polish institute.

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