Irish theologian Cyril O’Regan and Japanese sculptor Etsuro Sotoo received the Ratzinger Prize, expressing gratitude for the recognition.
Irish theologian O’Regan, from the University of Notre Dame in the United States, has studied Pope Benedict XVI in depth.
“The visibility that you have conferred on me with this award requires fullsome public acknowledgement,” he said.
“As it so happens there are words and languages great and small, those in use and those fallen into disuse, that cover the occasion. There are words such as Danke, Gracias, Merci, as well as the English, Thank you.”
Etsuro Sotoo was the first sculptor to receive the award.
“I am not simply a sculptor in search of beauty, but my way, my life, my objective in life is the search for something invisible through sculpture,” he said.
His story began with a trip to Barcelona. There, he was impressed by the construction of the Basilica of the Sagrada Familia and asked to work there. Later, he converted to Christianity and was baptised.
During the celebration, there were several musical interludes. A song inspired by the Nativity scene at the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, a scene which Sotoo worked on, closed the ceremony.