FR MICHAEL LAPSLEY SSM, the Anglican priest who lost both hands and one eye to a letter-bomb in 1990, has been awarded the 39th Niwano Peace Prize for his “relentless struggle” against apartheid and his peacebuilding work in South Africa, it was announced this week.

The award recognises individuals and organisations who contribute to interreligious co-operation, furthering the cause of world peace.

“Father Lapsley’s non-violent, multi-faith peacebuilding efforts and activities of healing based on restorative justice, dialogue, and reconciliation are continuing to contribute to the healing of South Africans as well as many others all over the world,” the Niwano Peace Prize Committee said in their announcement of the award on Monday.

The citation describes Fr Lapsley as “a powerful witness of healing and reconciliation” even after his injuries. “He did not become bitter. Rather he not only carried on his struggle, he set about working on healing and reconciliation. His work focuses on healing across all sorts of divides. He saw injustice and he fought it. He saw damage and he has strived to heal it.”

Fr Lapsley, who is 72, is a New Zealander by birth, and a member of the Society of the Sacred Mission. After ordination in Australia, he went to South Africa in 1973 at the height of the apartheid era.

Because of his political activism, he was expelled from the country. During his exile, he travelled the world to mobilise international support. While living in Zimbabwe, in 1990, he sustained severe injuries as a result of a letter-bomb attack attributed to covert South African security forces.

Speaking to Vatican Radio in 2012, Fr Lapsley said that he had realised that if he was filled with hatred as a result of the bombing he would be a victim for ever. “I travelled a journey beyond simply being a victim or survivor to being a victor,” he said. His “long and painful recovery” enabled him to return to South Africa and to help bring healing to others.

He went on to found the Institute for the Healing of Memories, in Cape Town, in 1998, and since then has worked to combat xenophobia and violence against refugees, has run workshops for prisoners and human-rights education for the young, and has participated in dialogue sessions and other peacebuilding activities. He was also a member of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

Fr Lapsley will receive the prize during the presentation ceremony in Tokyo on 14 June.