Prof. Dr. Konrad Osterwalder, Rector of the United Nations University, is the recipient of the 2009 Matteo Ricci International Award. Established in 1998 by the Faculty of Political Science of the Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore in Milan, the award recognizes the unique contributions of individuals to bridge cultural and intellectual divides for the betterment of mankind.

UNU Rector Konrad Osterwalder (middle) receives the Matteo Ricci International Award.

The award ceremony, held on 27 October, marked the fourth time the Matteo Ricci International Award has been bestowed. The previous recipients were Archbishop Giuseppe Pittau (former Rector of Sophia University), Fra’ Andew Bertie (Grand Master of the Soverign Military Order of Malta), and Father Gianpaolo Salvini (economist and editor of La Civiltà Cattolica).

UNU Rector Osterwalder delivered a Lectio Magistralis at the award ceremony, continuing a tradition that began in 1989 with the institution of a Cathedra Magistralis (Professorial Chair) in the university’s Faculty of Political Science. Other eminent figures who have delivered a Lectio Magistralis include Jacques Delors (President of the Commission European Community, 1985–1994), Javier Pérez de Cuéllar (Secretary-General of the United Nations, 1982–1991), Helmut Kohl (Chancellor of the German Federal Republic, 1982–1998), and Romano Prodi (President of the European Union Commission 1999–2004).

Rector Osterwalder’s Lectio Magistralis, delivered in Italian, was entitled “The United Nations University: For a Dialogue Between Cultures” (”L’Università delle Nazioni Unite per il dialogo tra le culture“). The speech recognized the role of dialogue, justice, dignity, risk and responsibility as defining features of humanity. In this spirit, he pointed to the United Nations University’s founding charter which has among its objectives a focus on the “coexistence between peoples having different cultures, languages and social systems” and those “universal values related to the improvement of the quality of life.” Rector Osterwalder affirmed that the United Nations University is uniquely placed to encourage a dialogue of trust among cultures, necessary to arrive at viable responses to sustainable global development.