Aachen, Germany - Andrea Riccardi, the Catholic layman who founded the Sant'Egidio Community in Rome, was picked Saturday as the winner of the prestigious Charlemagne Prize in Germany.

The civic prize, to be handed over next year in the western city of Aachen, honours his services to Europe.

Riccardi founded the community with other lay people at the parish church of Sant'Egidio in Rome 40 years ago.

In addition to prayer and charity, it has actively mediated between enemies in an effort to bring peace to nations such as Iraq.