Premio Ambasciatori 2026 – Prize to Giulia Ceccutti

This year's Premio Ambasciatori, the Literature Prize of the Ambassadors accredited to the Holy See in Rome, goes to Giulia Ceccutti for her impressive book "Respirare il futuro. La sfida di Neve Shalom Wahat Al-Salam".

In times of regional and global confrontation, Giulia Ceccutti tells the story of a village, located between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, at 50 kilometres from Gaza, in which, in spite of many challenges, Israelis and Palestinians have lived peacefully together for decades.

Her book gives hope that differences and conflicts can be overcome if we all make a decisive effort in humanity, tolerance and peaceful coexistence. Giulia Ceccutti's book is a powerful and encouraging call for diplomats to work harder in order to achieve just and lasting peace, whether in the Middle East or to end Russia's war against Ukraine.

For Ambassador Martin Selmayr it was an honour to co-chair this year once again the jury of Italian-speaking Ambassadors - with colleagues from Albania, Cyprus, Canada, France, Lithuania, Peru, Romania, Switzerland and from the Order of Malta - together with Francesco Nitto, Italy's Ambassador to the Holy, who hosted the award ceremony in the beautiful Palazzo Borromeo. We are very grateful to Monsignor Paolo Rudelli, the Substitute for General Affairs of the Secretariat of State of the Holy See, for his participation and remarks on this occasion.

© Villa Europa

© Villa Europa