In a historic tribute coinciding with his 90th birthday, His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, has been announced as the recipient of the prestigious 2025 Gold Mercury Award for Peace and Visionary Governance. This recognition highlights his lifelong dedication to promoting non-violence, interfaith dialogue, compassion, and environmental sustainability.
The award ceremony is scheduled to take place on March 31, 2025, in Dharamshala, India—the residence of the Tibetan spiritual leader and seat of the Tibetan government-in-exile.
Gold Mercury International, the organization behind this distinguished honor, emphasized the timing of the award as deeply significant. “Gold Mercury International is privileged to bestow the Gold Mercury Award for Peace and Visionary Governance upon His Holiness, Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama,” the organization stated. “This honour comes in a historic year as His Holiness marks his 90th birthday, celebrating a lifetime of unwavering commitment to peace, reconciliation, interfaith dialogue, a culture of wisdom, and the protection of our planet.”
Amid growing global challenges related to security, peaceful coexistence, and environmental sustainability, Gold Mercury International highlighted the Dalai Lama’s teachings as a profound source of inspiration. “His teachings continue to inspire individuals, communities, and leaders to build a more just, peaceful, equitable, and sustainable world,” the statement further added, noting his continuous advocacy for Tibetan rights through peaceful, non-violent methods, in the spirit of Mahatma Gandhi.
Expressing his gratitude, His Holiness remarked, “I am deeply honoured to receive the Gold Mercury Award for Advancing a Culture of Peace, Non-violence, and Environmental Stewardship, symbolising our shared commitment to a more compassionate and sustainable world. This recognition reminds us of our collective responsibility to foster understanding, wisdom, and environmental harmony. My heartfelt thanks to Gold Mercury International for their dedication to these universal values.”
Nicolas De Santis Cuadra, President of Gold Mercury International, praised the Dalai Lama’s influential contributions to global consciousness, stating, “His profound Buddhist commitment to non-violence, compassion, a culture of wisdom, and environmental responsibility has transformed global awareness. In this milestone year of his 90th birthday, we recognise his extraordinary efforts in creating a planetary culture of peace, compassion, human dignity, and environmental stewardship—essential guides for humanity’s sustainable future.”
Established in 1961, the Gold Mercury International Award recognizes remarkable contributions to global governance, humanitarian efforts, economic development, and environmental sustainability. Past recipients include former U.S. Presidents Ronald Reagan and Gerald Ford, former Egyptian President Anwar Sadat, and notable humanitarian organizations such as UNICEF and the Red Cross.
