The Vatican’s Academy for Life has awarded Sister Giustina Olha Holubets, a Ukrainian nun, the 2025 “Guardian of Life” award. This recognition is for her tireless work in supporting parents who receive life-ending or life-limiting diagnoses for their preborn children. As the president of the nonprofit organisation “Perinatal Hospice – Imprint of Life” in Lyiv, Ukraine, Holubets has dedicated her life to providing care and accompaniment to families facing difficult prenatal diagnoses.
Holubets’ organization, established in 2017, is the first perinatal hospice in Ukraine and offers a unique approach to supporting families in need. By emphasizing the value and dignity of every human life, Holubets and her team help parents cope with the challenges of a prenatal diagnosis and provide care and support during the pregnancy and beyond.
The “Guardian of Life” award is given to individuals who have demonstrated exceptional commitment to protecting and promoting human life. Archbishop Vincenzo Paglia presented the award to Holubets during a press conference at the Vatican, praising her dedication to the pro-life cause. Holubets accepted the award with humility, saying it was an honor to receive it “for our children and parents.”