(December 10, 2010) Chaldean rite Archbishop Louis Sako of Kirkuk, Iraq has been
awarded the 2010 International Prize for Peace for his efforts to defend religious
minorities in the troubled country. The promoter of the award, Pax Christi International
said that Archbishop Sako "is one of the most prominent defenders of minorities in
danger in Iraq and a firm advocate of the difficult democratization and process of
reconciliation in Iraq." While receiving the prize at the headquarters of the Bishops'
Conference of France in Paris on Wednesday Archbishop Sako said he was receiving the
honour on behalf of the Christians of Iraq. In statements to Vatican Radio, the prelate
said that "without dialogue, without this culture of opening to peace and respect
of the other, there are no solutions, only barriers." He also pointed out that this
prize comes on the eve of Christmas and after the Muslim celebration of the feast
of sacrifice. In this context "for us, Christmas is the feast of peace and the message
of heaven is 'peace on earth,'" the prelate explained