The President of the Italian Republic Grants the Title of Knight Officer to Monsignor Dr. Yoannis Lahzi Gaid

Posted on 2025-01-17

The President of the Italian Republic, Mr. Sergio Mattarella, has granted the title of Knight Officer to Monsignor Dr. Yoannis Lahzi Gaid in recognition of his efforts in promoting the culture of human fraternity and building bridges of dialogue and coexistence among followers of different religions.

The President assigned his special advisor, Dr. Stefano Erbani, the Advisor to the President of the Republic for Political Affairs, to present this honor to Monsignor Gaid at the Presidential Palace. This recognition also acknowledges the humanitarian initiatives he has undertaken as the President of the Italian Bambino Gesù Association and the Egyptian Human Fraternity Foundation.

These initiatives include the establishment of the Oasis of Mercy Home for Children in the new Egyptian capital, the implementation of the Human Fraternity Restaurants chain to provide free meals to underprivileged families, and the planning of the Bambino Gesù Hospital for Women and Children, which will be the first of its kind in the Middle East specializing in rare and genetic diseases.

It is noteworthy that His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates, also awarded Monsignor Yoannis Lahzi Gaid the Zayed II Order in appreciation of his efforts to support peace initiatives and promote the culture of peaceful coexistence among followers of different religions, following the signing of the Document on Human Fraternity in Abu Dhabi on February 4, 2019.

Monsignor Gaid, in addition to his role as the representative of the Holy See (Vatican) on the Higher Committee of Human Fraternity, served as the personal secretary to His Holiness Pope Francis for more than six years. He currently works in the Secretariat of State of the Vatican (Prime Minister’s Office), in the Department of General Affairs.