Others to be honored at the ceremony Wednesday also include journalist Robert L. Bartley; former Sen. Edward W. Brooke; Carnegie Corp. president Vartan Gregorian; entrepreneur Estee Lauder; ophthalmologist Arnall Patz; Commentary magazine editor Norman Podhoretz; and Walter B. Writson, Economic Policy Advisory Board chairman under President Reagan.

The award has been regularly bestowed upon leaders, activists and notables from across the country and around the world, including former U.S. presidents Jimmy Carter, Gerald Ford and Ronald Reagan; current Secretary of State Colin Powell; former South African president Nelson Mandela; activist Jesse Jackson; Czech leader Vaclav Havel; and Cardinal Joseph Bernadin.

This year's list of recipients is the first to recognize two world faith leaders in the past decade.

In honoring Pope John Paul II earlier this month during a visit to Europe, President Bush described the Catholic leader as a devoted servant of God who "has championed the cause of the poor, the weak, the hungry and the outcast. He has defended the unique dignity of every life, and the goodness of all life. Through his faith and moral conviction, he has given courage to others to be not afraid in overcoming injustice and oppression. His principled stand for peace and freedom has inspired millions and helped to topple communism and tyranny."

Wednesday's ceremony honoring the recipients will be held in the East Room of the White House, a spokeswoman for the president said.

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Contributing: Lisa Riley Roche

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E-mail: carrie@desnews.com