The Pacem in Terris  Peace and Freedom Award was created in 1964 by the Davenport Catholic Interracial Council.  An Award is presented by the Diocese in collaboration with other organization to honor a person for their achievements in peace and justice, not only in their country but in the world.

The first Pacem in Terris award was given to John F. Kennedy in 1964.  Since then it has included such notables as the activist Dorothy Day and religious figures such as Blessed Mother Teresa.  

Click here for Previous Pacem In Terris Recipients
Click here to learn more about the Encyclical letter Pacem in Terris  (Peace on Earth)

Bishop Emeritus Munib Younan, a Lutheran church leader from the Middle East committed to cultivating peace by building bridges among religions, was chosen to receive the Pacem in Terris Peace and Freedom Award.

In 2012, Bishop Younan joined global religious leaders in signing the historic “Welcome the Stranger: Affirmation for Faith Leaders” developed by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees with a Lutheran World Federation-led initiative.  
 
Bishop Younan and Pope Francis co-signed a Joint Statement commemorating the Lutheran Reformation and Historical Reconciliation between the Lutheran and Roman  Catholic Churches in 2016 in Lund, Sweden.                                Photo by: Catholic Messenger