February 2026
«Freedom is never taken for granted: it must be conquered and made fruitful». These are the vibrant and passionate words that Bernhard Scholz used in the lectio magistralis held at Link University in Rome. On Thursday, February 19, the President of the Meeting for Friendship Amongst Peoples Foundation ETS was awarded the “Economics, Health and Society” Award of Excellence, established by the University to offer recognition to eminent personalities who have distinguished themselves for high merits in the fields of economics, finance, management, law, international relations, and medicine.
«Freedom is never taken for granted and must be conquered and made fruitful every day»
«The State that wants to guarantee freedom to its citizens», explained Scholz, «needs citizens to use their freedom in a responsible way, basing themselves on moral values that the State itself can neither impose nor generate. The single person, therefore, needs, to be himself, to discover within himself the lifeblood of freedom and of responsibility. Society, if it wants to be a free society, depends on this personal commitment of everyone. Freedom is never taken for granted and must be conquered and made fruitful every day with passion and respect. First of all, religious freedom, freedom of education, and freedom of opinion».
Council of State President Luigi Maruotti also spoke
The lecture, in front of an audience packed with students and professors, was preceded by speeches from the Rector of Link, Carlo Alberto Giusti, the President of the Council of State, Luigi Maruotti, and Rai journalist Incoronata Boccia. «The Scientific Committee and the Academic Senate of Link University», explained Rector Giusti in his opening address, «wanted to recognize Bernhard Scholz for his great merits in social activities carried out in the various contexts in which he has operated, particularly at the helm of the School of Social Enterprise of the Foundation for Subsidiarity, the Compagnia delle Opere, and the Meeting for Friendship Amongst Peoples Foundation».
The conclusion of Bernhard Scholz’s speech at Link University
«I hope that schools, businesses, associations, and universities, as well as your university», concluded the President of the Meeting, «will always have freedom at heart, without yielding to oppressive or even accommodating standardizations. Each of us was born for a new beginning – for the good of all».
