“It’s been very successful,” the Grand Master of the Order of Malta, Fra’ Matthew Festing, commented on the Order’s International Seminar, taking place for the first time in Venice from 15 to 18 January, in which over 400 delegates from the five continents participated. The largest meeting of the Order’s leaders ever held, to assess and share, from north to south, from east to west, its future strategies.

A five-yearly appointment, the Seminar represents the continuation of the meeting held on Malta in 2004. The aim is to examine and define the Order’s strategies for the next ten years in performing its time-honoured mission.

In his introductory speech, the Grand Master remembered with compassion the Order’s Cardinalis Patronus, His Eminence Pio Laghi, who had died the week before, reading the message the cardinal had addressed to the Seminar participants. Fra’ Matthew Festing then stressed some of the Order’s priorities: first of all the encouragement of vocations, followed by the extension and enhancement of health and humanitarian operations. Among these latter he stressed the international pilgrimage with the sick to Lourdes, the Holy Family Hospital in Bethlehem “which, with the current situation in the Middle East and with reference to our history is of vital importance for the Order” and, finally, Malteser International “whose work is admired worldwide”.

Twelve working groups examined the status of vocations for the professed religious life and how to increase their number, as well as the Order’s future in both its spiritual and humanitarian aspects. The Seminar also focused its attention on the vast range of global projects underway to assist those in need. Measures to expand the international and local pilgrimages were studied, as well as the possibility of increasing encounters and exchanges at global level. There was also an important debate on the Order as a promotor of peace between nations, religions and societies.

There were special meetings for the professed knights (the Order’s religious) for the presidents of the 47 National Association, for the hospitallers and for the Order of Malta’s diplomatic corps.

The Seminar ended with a mass in St. Mark’s Basilica, patrimony of history, art and faith. Preceded by a solemn procession, the mass was celebrated by the Patriarch of Venice, Cardinal Angelo Scola, Bailiff Grand Cross of Honour and Devotion of the Order of Malta. The assembled congregation included the Grand Master, the Sovereign Council and the 400 Seminar participants, as well as the Mayor of Venice, Massimo Cacciari, together with numerous civic and military authorities of the city.