Templeton Prize awarded to L'Arche founder Jean Vanier

(Vatican Radio) The 2015 Templeton Prize has been awarded to Jean Vanier, founder of the L’Arche communities for people living with intellectual disabilities. The announcement, made at the British Academy on Wednesday, said the 86 year old Vanier was honoured for his powerful message that “love has the potential to change the world for the better, just as it has already changed the lives of countless individuals” who’ve been involved with the international L’Arche network. The movement has now grown to include 147 residential communities for people with and without disabilities.

The annual Templeton Prize is awarded to a person who makes an exceptional contribution to the practise or understanding of the spiritual dimension of life. Jean Vanier, who continues to live on the grounds of the original community, north of Paris, will be presented with the prize at the church of St Martin-in-the-Fields in London on March 18th.

Philippa Hitchen spoke to Vanier just ahead of the announcement on Wednesday…..

Listen:

Jean Vanier talks about the beginnings of the first L'Arche community in 1964 when he discovered the plight of disabled people living in institutions....he speaks about the transformation that takes places in the communities, not just for those living with disabilities but also for those coming to live and learn from these people....

He also talks about his work in ecumenical and interfaith dialogue which he says grew up as a result of the opening of L'Arche communities by people of other Christian traditions or other religious faiths 

Pope Francis, Vanier says, has been a huge encouragement through his attitude of encountering disabled people or those living on the periphery of society and urging us to listen and learn from them.....