Georges Pire (1910-1969)

Awarded the Prize “for his efforts to help refugees to leave their camps return to a life of freedom dignity.”

Belgian cleric educator. Pire was born on February 10, 1910 at Dinant, Belgium. He entered the Dominican monastery of La Sarte at Huy, Belgium in 1928 was ordained in 1934. From 1932 to 1936 he studied at the Dominican University in Rome obtained his doctorate there in 1936. In 1949 he founded Aid to Displaced Persons, soon it had branches throughout Europe. Between 1950 1954, he founded four “homes of welcome” in Belgium for aged refugees. Seven European “villages” were subsequently founded in Germany, Belgium, Austria during 1956-1962. Pire died on January 30, 1969 at Louvain.
Major Works:
Du Rhin au Danube avec 60,000 D. P.