VATICAN CITY, DEC. 7, 2004 (Zenit.org).- John Paul II received the Ettore Majorana Science for Peace prize from a group of scientists and used the occasion to advocate dialogue between science and faith.
Attending today’s award ceremony in the Vatican were members of the World Federation of Scientists, led by their president, Italian physicist Antonino Zichichi.
During the meeting, the Pope said that the prize monies awarded will fund scholarships for needy students of the Third World.
The prize was conferred by the International Center of Scientific Culture — founded by Zichichi over 40 years ago in Sicily — on John Paul II «for having given science the same pedestal as faith, thus creating in the world the basis for a great alliance between science and faith, an alliance of which there is great need.»
In his address to the scientists, the Holy Father said he hoped that «the joint effort of the international scientific community, of public institutions, and of all people of good will may ensure a future of hope and peace for humanity.»
«May God make this common commitment fruitful; in particular, may it help believers dedicated to scientific research to give a clear evangelical testimony and foster dialogue between science and faith,» he added.
The award is made by the vote of scientists worldwide and is dedicated to Italian nuclear physicist Ettore Majorana (1906-1938).
