“The conferral of the honor,” states the press release, “intends to acknowledge the absolute relevance of the academic profile of Professor Smerilli, full professor of Political Economy at the Pontifical Faculty of Education 'Auxilium' and coordinator of the 'Taskforce Economia' of the Vatican Commission for Covid-19 established by Pope Francis in March 2020; and her extremely intense teaching and research activities, as well as her commitment to promoting greater ethical awareness in economics and finance, especially towards young people.
Her professionalism and competence have found prestigious recognition with her appointment as Councilor in the Pontifical Commission for the Vatican City State and with the assignment of numerous other positions in civil society and in Italian institutions, areas in which she continues to offer a very important contribution to the development of the study of the Italian civil economy.”
Because of this prestigious recognition, the Pontifical Faculty of Educational Sciences "Auxilium", where Sister Smerilli teaches Political Economy, has issued a statement, in which it declares: “The Dean, and the entire Academic Community, congratulate Prof. Alessandra Smerilli for this new and prestigious recognition and wish her to continue to make her commitment to teaching, research and promoting an ethical and conscious economy a service to young people, the Church, Italy, and the world.”
The Order of the Star of Italy was established by Law of 3 February 2011 and is an honor granted by the President of the Republic, on the proposal of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, after consulting the Council of the Order, chaired by the Minister of Foreign Affairs.
The award honors those who have acquired special merits in the promotion of relations of friendship and cooperation between Italy and other countries and in the promotion of ties with Italy.
The Order is divided into five classes: Knight of the Grand Cross, Grand Officer, Commander, Officer and Knight, plus the special class of the Grand Cross of Honor, intended for those who have lost their lives or suffered serious physical disabilities in carrying out activities of high humanitarian value abroad.
The use of the insignia of the “Order of the Star of Italian Solidarity” is permitted without any limitation.
