#PopeFrancis meets with Actors George Clooney, Richard Gere and Salma Hayek awarding them Medals for Peace

Pope Francis awarded Actors George Clooney and Richard Gere and actress Salma Hayek on Sunday, awarding them the “Olive Medal” for peace. The Vatican event was organized to promote the foundation Scholas Occurrentes (schools of encounter). Clooney said it enables “many different religions to speak of inclusion, because we know that hatred and fundamentalist attitudes are learned and inculcated.” George Clooney, Richard Gere and Salma Hayek were at the Vatican to promote the work of Scholas, a foundation inspired by Pope Francis. The foundation links technology with arts and sports in order to promote social integration and the culture of encounter for peace. It is in 82 countries with a web of over 400,000 schools and educational networks. Its mission is to achieve the integration of communities, with a special focus on the poorer ones. It works with all kinds of schools, both public and private, and of all religious affiliations. According to its website, Scholas is an International Organization founded in 2013 and operating  under the Vatican, which “connects technology with arts and sports in order to promote social integration and the culture of encounter for peace.”