Correction appended
The U.S. Congress awarded the 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet the Congressional Gold Medal, the nation's highest civilian honor, Wednesday in the Capitol Rotunda.
Outside on the west lawn of the U.S. Capitol building, a diverse crowd gathered to watch the ceremony on a large screen.
Many politicians congratulated the Dalai Lama, who sat next to President Bush, on his multiple accomplishments, stating they could think of no person more worthy of the medal.
It was an "unsurpassed honor" to be able to award the Dalai Lama the Congressional Gold Medal, said Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., speaker of the House of Representatives.
She described the exiled spiritual leader as a source of wisdom and inspiration.
"Today you bring peace to the capital of the United States," Pelosi said.
Bush described the Dalai Lama as "a universal symbol of peace and tolerance, a shepherd of the faithful and a keeper of the flame for his people."
The ceremony had been surrounded by controversy because China did not want the United States to award the medal to the Dalai Lama. Pelosi urged the Chinese government to accept the Dalai Lama back into the country for "substantive discussions."
China has controlled Tibet since 1951, and the Dalai Lama fled to India in exile eight years later.
It is time for reconciliation to occur between Tibet and China, and this event was a symbol that the time has come, said Michael Ginsberg, a sophomore in the School of International Service.
"It gives me hope for the time that we live in ... hope that peace can be achieved without conflict and wars," Ginsberg said. "I hope in the 21st century, we can learn from our history."
Addressing Chinese skepticism, the Dalai Lama reaffirmed in his speech his decision to not accept any political office in a future Tibet.
"Beijing continues to allege that my hidden agenda is separation and restoration of Tibet's old socio-political system," he said. "Such a notion is unfounded and untrue."
On the future of Tibet, the Dalai Lama said he is not seeking independence from the China but a "meaningful autonomy for the Tibetan people."
The award shows America's commitment to peace, as well as its support of the Tibetan people, said Cody Shavel, a freshman in SIS.
After receiving the award, the Dalai Lama proceeded to a makeshift stage outside with Pelosi at his side. A security entourage escorted them as he greeted people along the way.
The post-ceremony event included a speech from the Dalai Lama, musical performers, Tibetan dancers and a celebrity appearance by actor Richard Gere, chairman of the International Campaign for Tibet.
In his outdoor address, the Dalai Lama thanked the president and first lady for their support and kindness and said that such honorable recognition would bring "tremendous joy and encouragement" to the Tibetan people.
The Dalai Lama is the spiritual leader of millions of Tibetan Buddhists and the 1989 Nobel Peace Prize laureate.
He went into in exile in India in 1959 after fleeing Chinese soldiers in Tibet. He has lived there ever since.
The Dalai Lama was the 146th person to receive the Congressional Gold Medal since its creation in 1776, according to the clerk of the House of Representatives' Web site.
Other medal recipients include Mother Theresa, Winston Churchill and Jackie Robinson, according to the award's Web site.
Correction: It is incorrectly identified that the Dalai Lama was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor; he was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal. The Congressional Medal of Honor is a military honor; the Congressional Gold Medal is a civilian honor.
