(February 06, 2012) An association of young people engaged in justice, development
and solidarity with the poor, honoured Pope Benedict XVI on Sunday with a peace prize.
A delegation of SERMIG, the Italian acronym for Youth Missionary Service, that includes
both married and single men and women, handed the Pope its Artisan of Peace Prize
with a citation reading: “To Benedict XVI, a voice that leads to truth, sister of
peace.” The delegation of Jordanians, Brazilians, Germans as well as Italians from
Turin, was to meet the Pope on Saturday during the 4th world meeting of
Youth for Peace in the Vatican, but the appointment was postponed due to bad snowy
weather hitting most of Italy. Instituted in 1981, the Artisan of Peace prize is
given each year to people for their contribution to peace and common good. SERMIG
was founded in 1964 by Italian writer Ernesto Olivero to fight hunger in the world
through works of justice and development, by living in solidarity with the poor and
helping young people find their way to peace.