The prestigious “Empedocle International Prize for the Human Sciences, in memory of Paolo Borsellino”, now in its thirtieth edition, will see three prominent personalities among its winners this year: the patriarch of Jerusalem Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the aerospace scientist Amalia Ercoli Finzi and sociologist Agop Manoukian. The awards ceremony will take place on November 30th at the PalaCongressi in Agrigento, in a cultural setting that anticipates the designation of the city as the capital of Italian culture for 2025.
For the “Concordia and brotherhood” section, the recognition goes to Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, of the Order of Friars Minor, a well-known biblical scholar and promoter of peace in the Holy Land through prayer and diplomacy. The “Sky: infinity and science” section instead rewards Amalia Ercoli Finzi, one of the most important scientists in the world in the field of aerospace sciences and consultant for international agencies such as NASA, ASI and ESA. Finally, for the “European and universal conscience” section, the sociologist Agop Manoukian was chosen, honorary president of the Union of Armenians of Italy and author of numerous essays that delve into the history and current affairs of the Armenian people.
The event will be introduced by representatives of the Academy of Mediterranean Studies of Agrigento, promoter of the award, including the president Monsignor Enrico dal Covolo, the honorary president Assunta Gallo Afflitto and the president of the Scientific Committee Don Carmelo Mezzasalma. Representatives of the Agrigento institutions will follow, after which the winners will each present a “lectio magistralis”. The reasons for the awarding of the prizes will be read by important figures: the metropolitan archbishop of Agrigento Alessandro Damiano for cardinal Pizzaballa, the journalist and writer Marco Roncalli for the scientist Ercoli Finzi, and the doctor-essayist Pietro Kuciukian for the sociologist Manoukian .
To conclude the evening, at 7.15 pm, there will be a recital by the actor Gaetano Aronica, entitled “Fragments of the philosophical-poetic work of the legendary, very famous, Empedocles of Agrigento”, taken from the Diels-Kranz edition and accompanied by the compositions original orchestral pieces by Filippo Portera. This tribute to Empedocles represents a new tribute to the Sicilian philosopher and poet in a moment of great visibility for Agrigento, which is preparing to become the Italian capital of culture.
For further information: comunica.accademiastudimed@gmail.com In the photo, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa
