Italian missionary Fr. Sebastiano D’Ambra, a well-known peace advocate in the southern Philippines, has been awarded one of Italy’s highest honors. D’Ambra received the Cavaliere dell’Ordine della Stella d’Italia (Knight of the Order of the Star of Italy), an honor bestowed by the Italian Republic. The award, granted by Italian President Sergio Mattarella, was presented to the priest in Manila by Italy’s ambassador to the Philippines, Davide Giglio, on Oct. 1. The prestigious order of chivalry recognizes individuals who have significantly advanced friendly relations and cooperation between Italy and other nations, and who promote strong cultural and economic ties with Italy. In D’Ambra’s case, the recognition honors his lasting commitment to the cause of peace and interreligious dialogue between different cultures in Mindanao. A priest of the Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions (PIME), D’Ambra has served in the Philippines since 1977. He has spent most of his missionary life in Zamboanga City, promoting dialogue between Muslims and Christians through the Silsilah Movement, which he founded. “Silsilah has worked to overcome religious barriers through initiatives of coexistence between Christians and Muslims,” the Italian embassy in Manila said. The initiative, it added, made a significant contribution to the establishment and consolidation of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. The Silsilah Movement has received several national and international peace awards, including the Goi Peace Award in 2013 from Japan’s Goi Peace Foundation, and the World Interfaith Harmony Week Award in 2014, sponsored by King Abdullah II of Jordan. Most recently, in July 2024, D’Ambra received the Bishop Jorge Barlin Golden Cross Award, the highest honor given by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), for his service to the Church. He also served for many years as executive secretary of the CBCP’s Episcopal Commission on Interreligious Dialogue.
