The Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, visited Lebanon to see the Sovereign Order of Malta’s charitable activities in the country.

Yesterday, 24 June, the cardinal celebrated a mass for the feast of St. John the Baptist, the Order of Malta’s patron saint, in the presence of the Order’s Ambassador to Lebanon, Maria Emerica Cortese, and Lebanese state officials. Over the next few days, the Secretary of State will visit some of the many humanitarian structures run by the Order of Malta’s Lebanese Association, participating in its charitable activities. “This visit offers an opportunity to make an extra contribution to resolving the dramatic situation,” said Cardinal Parolin, answering questions from the press.

The Lebanese Association strongly desired this visit, which testifies to the spirit of communion between the Order of Malta and the Holy See and the attention it gives to the Order’s numerous humanitarian projects worldwide.

For over 70 years, the Order of Malta has been on the frontlines, providing basic health care and social support services to the Lebanese population. Since 2020, the Order has focused its efforts on “agro-humanitarian” projects, crucial to guarantee food security, promote economic recovery and support the most vulnerable sectors of the population in Lebanon.

The Order of Malta’s humanitarian action in the Middle East country is carried out in the context of a serious socio-economic crisis, with 80% of the population living in poverty, further aggravated by the consequences of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.