During a pilgrimage to the renowned sanctuary of Fátima in Portugal, Stephan U. Breu from Tägerschen, in the canton of Thurgau (Switzerland), was honored with a special award from the Holy See: the Benemerenti Medal.

The Benemerenti Medal (“to the well-deserving”) is a papal honor awarded for distinguished service to the Catholic Church. It can be conferred upon laypeople, religious, and deacons who have rendered outstanding voluntary or professional service that goes beyond the scope of their official duties. The first recorded awarding of the Benemerenti Medal took place in 1818 during the 18th year of the pontificate of Pope Pius VII. Since then, it has become a highly respected distinction within the Church.

The nomination for Stephan U. Breu was submitted by Bishop Mykola Petro Luchok, OP, of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Mukachevo, through his Apostolic Nuncio. The reason for the award was Breu’s long-standing and wide-ranging support for the Catholic Church in general, and specifically for the Diocese of Mukachevo during the ongoing Russian war of aggression that began in February 2022.

Over many years, Breu has supported various Catholic social initiatives in Switzerland, Portugal, Syria, São Tomé and Príncipe, the Philippines, and Ukraine. Following the Russian assault on Bucha, his efforts focused particularly on assisting the local Roman Catholic community by alleviating urgent needs and helping to rebuild the Church’s infrastructure.

After a solemn Mass, the medal and accompanying certificate were presented to Stephan U. Breu on behalf of the Diocese of Mukachevo by Father Oleksandr Grozinski.