The Order of Malta’s Ninth Asia Pacific Conference ended on Sunday 24 November. Some 100 delegates – representing the Order’s bodies in South East Asia and Australia – participated in this annual gathering.

The new president James Douglas and the new Australian Association council welcomed the presidents of the other national associations, the ambassadors, the hospitallers and the delegates from Philippines, Singapore, Hong Kong, Thailand, Korea, New Zealand and Australia.

Arriving from the Grand Magistry in Rome were Grand Chancellor Albrecht Boeselager, Grand Hospitaller Dominique de La Rochefoucauld-Montbel and the Order’s Prelate Msgr. Jean Laffitte.

Three intense days to analyse the present state of the Order’s work in the region, establish the priorities and standardize the procedures. The new programmes for the most marginalised were examined as well as the participation of members and volunteers in the third world day for the poor.  Initiatives for the disabled included the summer camp that is now also organized in this region.

A special session in the conference was devoted to the promise of obedience by members of the second class. The presidents, the ambassadors, the chaplains and the communication staff participated in their specific meetings.

At the end of the conference, Albrecht Boeselager expressed his satisfaction, saying that ‘the considerable increase of the Order of Malta’s work in this region over the last ten years is certainly the merit of these annual Asia Pacific conventions, the cornerstones on which this development has been achieved’.

In 2020, the Order of Malta’s Tenth Asia Pacific Conference will be hosted by the youngest association, that of Hong Kong.