London - Nadhmi and Ibtisam Auchi received two high honours decreed on them by His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI.
The awards were granted in recognition of their contribution and support of the various interfaith and humanitarian work in the former Yugoslavia.
Mr Nadhmi Auchi received the Holy Cross Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice Medal which was established by Pope Leo XIII in 1888 and is given for distinguished service.
It is the highest medal that can be awarded to non clergy by the Vatican.
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Arab ambassadors attended ceremony
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Mrs Ibtisam Auchi received the Benemerenti Medal which was instituted by Pope Gregory XVI in 1832 and is conferred on those who have exhibited long and exceptional service to the international community.
The ceremony was conducted by His Excellency Archbishop Eugenio Sbarbaro, Apostolic Nuncio (Vatican Ambassador) to the Republic of Serbia and held at the Hilton Hotel in Park Lane London.
Archbishop Eugenio Sbarbaro highlighted the importance of Mr and Mrs Auchi contributions.
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Mrs Auchi with Lord Clement-Jones and Dr Fawaz Akhras
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"Their support was not restricted to a certain religion, nor a region," said Archbishop Eugenio Sbarbaro.
The ceremony was attended by distinguished guests including members of the two Houses of Parliament, Arab and European ambassadors in the Court of Saint James', religious and interfaith leaders, businessmen, and the media.
“Ibtisam and I feel very honoured to have been awarded these high medals and would like to express our gratitude to His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI for granting them," said Nadhmi Auchi during the ceremony.
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Maha Al-Fakier with Afif Safieh (L), Syrian Ambassador, Hani Dajani
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"Ibtisam and I have felt privileged to have been able to personally support and partner with the Vatican on a good number of interfaith and humanitarian projects throughout the former Yugoslavia. All of these projects inspired by the Holy See have been to the benefit of all and offered throughout the region without regard to any one particular faith," he added.
“As so many of you are aware, the recent war in the region witnessed considerable religious unrest, the percussion of minorities, acts of atrocities by all sides, and in certain cases the horror of genocide," he emphasized.
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Orthodox church was present
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"As Muslims, Ibtisam and I share a common desire to foster greater inter-religious relations with the followers of all faiths and we are both well aware and appreciate the important work of the late Pope John Paul II and the current Pope in fostering such work globally,” Auchi concluded.
Nadhami Auchi is the President of the Anglo Arab Organisation (AAO), an NGO with an aim to bridge cultural and economic gaps between the Arab World and the West.
The AAO has various initiatives concerning interfaith dialogue, Middle East conflict, Iraq war, and the Sudan civil war. It donated substantial aids to people in-need during wars and natural disasters.
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