ST EUGENE’S Cathedral in Derry was packed to capacity on Saturday
night for the investiture of former SDLP leader John Hume as a papal
knight.
Mr Hume was made a Knight Commander of St Gregory by Pope
Benedict last July and on Saturday night his life-long friend, the
retired Bishop of Derry Dr Edward Daly, conducted the investiture
ceremony.
The award is one of dozens of awards Mr Hume has
received in recognition of his work for peace.
In 1998 he shared the
Nobel Peace Prize with the then leader of the Ulster Unionist Party,
David Trimble.
At Saturday’s ceremony in Mr Hume’s home cathedral,
Bishop Daly described the former politician as someone who was years
ahead of his time and said that his determination to pursue a
non-violent path had inspired many people around the world.
“John
demonstrated to us that there was a non-violent and effective way to
address the issues and injustices that confronted us. He consistently
demonstrated and exemplified that there was another way, a way that
would not involve bloodshed, fear, destruction, intimidation, misery or
thuggery, a way of dialogue rather than armed conflict. His generosity
and selflessness were epitomised in the manner in which he donated the
entire cash element of his Nobel Peace Prize equally to the St Vincent
de Paul Society and the Salvation Army,” he said.
Speaking after the ceremony, Mr Hume said he was both humbled and honoured.
“I
see it not as an award for me but for the people of Derry. If it hadn’t
been for the great support from the people of Derry I wouldn’t have
been able to have represented them nor achieve anything I did achieve,”
he said.