King (of Jordan) awarded first Pope John Paul II Peace Award

[ECH1969]

WASHINGTON (AP) — His Majesty King Abdullah was awarded the first Pope John Paul II Peace Award on Wednesday in recognition of his efforts to promote tolerance among the world's religions and tackle extremism.

The King has been at the forefront of efforts to portray a positive image of Islam in the light of terrorist acts carried out in its name.

“We will not let our faith be hijacked by the violent few,” said the King in his letter. “This was the driving force behind the Amman Message, issued a year ago, which expresses Islam's teachings regarding humility and equality before God, compassion, and peaceful coexistence among all human beings.” Msgr. William A. Kerr, executive director of the Pope John Paul II Cultural Centre, which presents the award in the name of the late pontiff, said King Abdullah “was chosen because of his efforts to broker peace and understanding and for his tireless work to peacefully settle conflicts that engender violence.”

Among those in the audience were representatives of 65 of the 130 countries visited by Pope John Paul during his papacy. He died April 2, and the award was established to honour his legacy.

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