The Sovereign Military Order of Malta Holds Audience with Pope Francis
A momentous meeting took place at the Vatican as Pope Francis warmly received Fra’ John Dunlap, the Grand Master of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta. The audience, lasting 25 minutes, highlighted the incredible humanitarian work carried out by the Order globally.
The meeting, following tradition, occurred shortly after the feast of St. John the Baptist, the patron saint of the Order of Malta, celebrated on 24 June. Alongside members of the Sovereign Council and the Order of Malta’s ambassador to the Holy See, Antonio Zanardi Landi, the Grand Master and Grand Chancellor, Riccardo Paternò di Montecupo, engaged in fruitful discussions with Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, the Vatican’s Secretary for Relations with States and International Organizations.
The dialogue revolved around the Order’s profound spiritual, humanitarian, and diplomatic efforts spanning 120 countries. The organization consists of a vast network comprising 13,500 members, 100,000 volunteers, 52,000 employees, and over 100 diplomatic missions.
Humanitarian Initiatives in Ukraine and the Holy Land
Significant attention was directed towards the Order’s humanitarian aid projects in Ukraine, providing medical care, food supplies, medicine, and various services to the local population. Moreover, the discussions underscored the invaluable work carried out by the Order in the Holy Land, particularly at the Holy Family Hospital in Bethlehem, where over 100,000 babies have been born since 1990. The only facility in the region with a neonatal intensive-care unit, the hospital plays a vital role in the community. Collaborating with the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, the Order also initiated aid programs for the people of Gaza.
Exchange of Gifts
Concluding the meeting on a gesture of gratitude, Fra’ Dunlap presented Pope Francis with a medal featuring Our Lady of Mount Philermos, symbolizing the Order of Malta’s Marian spirituality. In return, the Pope offered a bronze bas-relief of Saints Peter and Paul, along with papal documents.
