Born in 1945 in Banja Luka, Bosnia Herzegovina, and archbishop of Sarajevo since 1981, Puljic has become widely known as a vigorous ecumenist for his collaboration in peacemaking and redevelopment efforts with fellow religious leaders in the Muslim, Serbian Orthodox and Jewish communities of Bosnia Herzegovina.
He has long pleaded with the U.S. government and the United Nations to take "decisive and credible action" to prevent further fragmentation and violence in the region, and last year he warned that the warring factions' selective interpretations of the Dayton Accords had led to further partitioning.
The archdiocese over which Puljic has presided since 1991 is the largest in Bosnia Herzegovina and included 520,000 Catholics when he was named archbishop. Only some 125,000 remain. Of the 830,000 Catholics who lived throughout Bosnia before the "ethnic cleansings" began, only some 400,000 remain.
The Notre Dame Award was established in 1992 in celebration of the University's Sesquicentennial, to honor persons "within and without the Catholic Church, citizens of every nation, whose religious faith has quickened learning, whose learning has engendered deeds, and whose deeds give witness to God's kingdom among us."
Previous recipients include Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter and Mother Teresa.