His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Emeritus of Cape Town Desmond Tutu were awarded the Fetzer Institute's Prize for Love and Forgiveness on September 27 at the 2009 Peace Summit in Vancouver, Canada.

Each received a $100,000 monetary prize to support their work, and a handcrafted, inscribed journal. The Archbishop Emeritus' daughter, the Rev Mpho Tutu, accepted the prize on his behalf.

"The institute's prize honours the courage and persistence with which His Holiness and Archbishop Emeritus Tutu have both worked to bring love, compassion and forgiveness to all that they do, as well as their ability to inspire these same impulses in others around the world," said a news release from the Fetzer Institute.

"Love, compassion and forgiveness have the power to change, the power to heal and the power to transform any situation – no matter how violent or troubled – into something that is generative and life-giving," said Tom Beech, president and CEO of the Fetzer Institute.

"The Dalai Lama and Archbishop Tutu are renowned, revered, respected and loved the world over. In giving this award, the Fetzer Institute celebrates their humanity and the consistency with which their lives stand for compassion in the face of isolation, love in the face of fear and forgiveness in the face of violence."

The Fetzer Institute is the primary sponsor of the Charter for Compassion, a collaborative effort to build a peaceful and harmonious global community. The charter is the result of noted author and scholar Karen Armstrong's one wish to change the world. The Charter for Compassion will be unveiled formally in Washington, D.C., on Thursday, November 12.

"Through the prize, its sponsorship of the Charter for Compassion and other key programmes, the Fetzer Institute hopes to inspire people everywhere to advance love and forgiveness in their own lives and communities – forming deeper connections and calling all people to act compassionately," according to the release.