James J. Norris
Born(1907-08-10)August 10, 1907
Roselle Park, New Jersey
DiedOctober 17, 1976(1976-10-17) (aged 69)
CitizenshipUnited States
EducationBattin High School, Elizabeth, New Jersey
St. Joseph's Preparatory Seminary, Holy Trinity, Alabama
Alma materCatholic University of America (BA)
Organization(s)International Catholic Migration Commission
Catholic Relief Services
Known forAdvocate for Migrants and Refugees
AwardsNansen Refugee Award (1975) (UNHCR)

James Cardinal Gibbons Medal (1967)
Order of the House of Orange, Officer (January 14, 1964)
Order of Isabella the Catholic, Knight's Cross (March 20, 1957)
Order of the Phoenix (Greece), 2nd Class, Grand Commander (1955)
Medal of the Hellenic Red Cross (Greece) (January 3, 1958)
Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany, Commander Cross of the Order (September 12, 1953)
Order of Polonia Restituta, Knight Commander (July 20, 1949)
Joseph Cardinal Mindszenty Medal (Budapest) (1948)
Polish Air Force Medal (April 15, 1947)

Manso Cross Award (Puerto Rico)
Military career
AllegianceUnited States
Service/branchUnited States Naval Reserve
United States Navy Armed Guard
Years of service1944–1946

James Joseph Norris was an American advocate for refugees and migrants. The first president of the International Catholic Migration Commission, he oversaw the assistance given to more than 200,000 migrants and refugees between 1951 and 1974.[1] A personal friend of both Pope Paul VI and later Mother Teresa, he was the first layperson to address the Second Vatican Council in 1963, where he spoke on the topic of world poverty and the Christian conscience.[2] He was also the Holy See's official representative to the funeral of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.[3] He was awarded the UNHCR's highest humanitarian award, known as the Nansen Refugee Award in 1975.

Honorary Degrees

References

  1. ↑ "Norris, James Joseph". Encyclopedia.com. Retrieved 27 March 2021.
  2. ↑ Giovanelli, Flaminia (June 2, 2013). "La visionaria più ammirata della sua generazione" (PDF). L'Osservatore Romano (in Italian). No. CLIII, n. 125. p. 9. Retrieved 27 March 2021.
  3. ↑ "Biographical Note". James J. Norris - Vatican Council II Collection. Catholic University of America. Retrieved 27 March 2021.

Sources

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