An Italian nun working in war-torn parts of Africa was honored at the U.S. State Department’s International Women of Courage award ceremony last week, commended for her dedicated service to the poor and to internally displaced persons.“Sister Maria Elena is being honored for her service to counter hatred, injustice, and war-related horrors,” said Heather Nauert, department spokesperson, at the award ceremony held March 23 at the Dean Acheson Auditorium in Washington, D.C.

“She has provided refuge to those internally displaced people by conflict; and her tireless work to bring peace in the Central African Republic. Thank you, Sister,” Nauert continued. Sister Maria Elena Berini, a Catholic nun from Italy who serves with the Sisters of Charity of St. Jeanne Anthide Thouret, was born in 1944. She developed a deep sense of compassion and service from a young age, when she left school at 15 to work in a textile factory to help support her family.