Cardinal Joseph Zen, Bishop Emeritus of Hong Kong, receives Canada’s John Diefenbaker Award
Tuesday, November 5, 2013
His Eminence Joseph Cardinal Zen, S.D.B., Bishop Emeritus of Hong Kong, received the 2013 John Diefenbaker Award for his defence of human rights and freedom. The award was given to him in Vancouver, October 31, 2013, by the Honourable John Baird, Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Trade and Development, accompanied by His Excellency Andrew Bennett, Canada’s Ambassador for Religious Freedom. The Most Reverend Paul-André Durocher, Archbishop of Gatineau and President of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB), and the Most Reverend J. Michael Miller, C.S.B., Archbishop of Vancouver, were also present. “With this award, Canada honours Cardinal Zen for his unwavering commitment to human rights, democracy and religious freedom in China. Cardinal Zen has remained steadfast in his defence and promotion of human dignity,” Mr. Baird said when presenting the award.
The award was created in 2010, in recognition of the Right Honourable John Diefenbaker, to honour individuals or groups that show exceptional courage and leadership in defending human rights and freedom. Mr. Diefenbaker was Prime Minister of Canada from 1957 to 1963.