The Conference of European Rabbis (CER) last night awarded one of its highest awards to Italian professor, politician and activist Andrea Riccardi at a ceremony held in Rome, Italy. The Rabbi Moshe Rosen Prize honours his outstanding example of civic involvement for a tolerant Europe and unceasing solidarity with the Jewish community.

For many years, Professor Riccardi has been a pioneer in strengthening interfaith relations and dialogue between the Catholic and Jewish communities of Europe through his work as the founder of the Sant’Egidio community – a lay Catholic association founded in 1968, following the second Vatican Council.

Since its inception, the Sant’Egidio community has become active in more than 70 countries around the world and currently numbers some 50,000 members. It is committed to friendship, respect and collaboration amongst people of different religions and cultures. In Rome and many other European cities, the community works with Jewish groups in hosting annual commemorations of and memorials for the victims of the Holocaust.