Cardinal Giulio Raimondo Mazzarino International Award

An award honoring a great Marsican figure

The Cardinal Giulio Raimondo Mazzarino International Award is a prestigious recognition presented by the Municipality of Pescina, in the Province of L'Aquila (Marsica, Abruzzo), dedicated to the fields of politics and diplomacy. Established by the Abruzzo Region under Regional Law no. 4 of 2024, at the initiative of regional councilor Antonietta La Porta, the award honors the memory of Giulio Raimondo Mazzarino (Pescina, 1602 – Vincennes, 1661), the cardinal who, as Richelieu's designated successor, steered the fate of France as Prime Minister under Louis XIV.

The bond with Pescina

The choice of Pescina is no coincidence: this small village in the Marsica region is the birthplace not only of Cardinal Mazzarino but also of the writer Ignazio Silone. Ceremonies take place in the town's symbolic landmarks, from the Teatro San Francesco — a former convent of the Friars Minor Conventual, now home to the Silone Study Center — to the Casa Museo Mazzarino, which houses relics and testimonies related to the great diplomat. In this way, the award intertwines historical memory, cultural identity, and the international vocation of the Abruzzo territory.

A prestigious hall of fame

The award is presented to personalities who have distinguished themselves in the service of institutions, diplomacy, and the culture of dialogue. The inaugural edition (2024) was conferred upon Professor Andrea Riccardi, founder of the Community of Sant'Egidio and president of the Società Dante Alighieri. The second edition was awarded to the ambassador and writer Maurizio Serra, a member of the Académie française, with the ceremony held at the Casa Museo Mazzarino.

The ceremony

The day of the award, presided over by a jury led by journalist Alina J. Di Mattia, alternates between formal institutional moments, laudations delivered by prominent figures from the diplomatic and academic worlds, musical performances, and an evening show. It is an event that brings ambassadors, historians, journalists, and institutional representatives to Pescina, transforming the Marsican village into a crossroads of culture and diplomacy for a day.

Why attend

• A unique cultural event celebrating two great figures of Pescina: Mazzarino and Silone.
• Ceremonies hosted in historic venues such as the Teatro San Francesco and the Casa Museo Mazzarino.
• An opportunity to discover the Marsica region and the historical heritage of inland Abruzzo.