The award, established in 2004, is named after Klaus Hemmerle (1929-1994), who was a professor of the philosophy of religion and served as Roman Catholic bishop of the western German city of Aachen from 1975 to 1994.
It is given every two years to outstanding figures who “build bridges of dialogue between Churches, religions and world outlooks.”
Suchocka, 76, was Poland’s prime minister from 1992 to 1993. She also served as justice minister from 1997 to 2000 and as the country's ambassador to Italy from 2002 to 2013.
In 2014, Pope Francis made her a member of his Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors.
(mk/gs)