The Hall of the Protomoteca of the Capitoline Museums hosted the fourth edition of the Joaquín Navarro-Valls International Award for Leadership and Benevolence, promoted by Biomedical University Foundation to pay tribute to personalities who, in their respective fields, stand out for their ability to combine professional excellence, ethical vision, and a spirit of service.

During the ceremony, conducted by the journalist Safiria Leccese, the recognition was awarded to Teacher Andrea Bocelli, for the Senior category, and Giulia Lapertosa, for the Junior category, awarded for having interpreted leadership as a tool for growth, inclusion and generation of value for society.

For the Senior category, the Award recognized in Andrea Bocelli is not only an internationally renowned artist, but also a figure capable of transforming success into concrete commitment to helping the most vulnerable. This path is also evidenced by the work of the Andrea Bocelli Foundation, which, with its mission of "empowering people and communities," promotes social innovation, helping to create a world where children, youth, and vulnerable communities are empowered to reach their full potential.

In the Junior category, Giulia Lapertosa was recognized for translating her entrepreneurial vision and social awareness into initiatives that promote access to training and skills development, recognizing education as a fundamental tool for inclusion and growth for new generations.

The 2026 edition of the Award was dedicated to Joaquín Navarro-Valls as a "man of unity", continuing the path of deepening his figure after the previous editions that had celebrated his profile as a "man-friend", "man-communicator" and "man of hope".

Doctor, journalist and Director of the Press Office of the Holy See for over twenty years during the pontificate of St. Giovanni Paul II, Navarro-Valls continues to be a point of reference for those who put professional skills and personal responsibility at the service of the common good. His legacy still inspires the Award promoted by the Biomedical University Foundation, of which he was a co-founder.

The ceremony also represented an important opportunity to support the Navarro-Valls Scholarship Fund of theUniversità Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, an expression of the Biomedical University Foundation's broader commitment to the training of young talent. The Fund, created to promote the right to education and social inclusion, has already enabled the awarding of 30 scholarships to deserving students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, some of whom were present in the hall during the ceremony.

The Scientific Committee of the Award, responsible for the selection of the candidates, is chaired by Federico Eichberg, Vice President of the Biomedical University Foundation, and is composed of Matteo Colaninno, Giuseppe Cornetto Bourlot, Stefano Lucchini and Luisa Todini.

The Jury, responsible for appointing the winners, was chaired by Alessandro Pernigo, President of the Biomedical University Foundation, together with Paolo Arullani, Ferruccio De Bortoli, Maria Bianca Farina, Gianni Letta and Lucia Vedani.

With this fourth edition, the Joaquín Navarro-Valls Award has confirmed its role in promoting examples of leadership based on responsibility, solidarity, and the ability to generate a positive impact on society. In previous editions, the award was given to: Brunello Cucinelli, Lina Tombolato Doris, Nicolò Govoni, Silvano Pedrollo and Anna Fiscale.