On 11 October, Grand Chancellor Riccardo Paternò di Montecupo received Panama’s Foreign Minister Janaina Tewaney Mencomo.

“Thank you for the Order of Malta’s important humanitarian aid for my country,” said the Panamanian Foreign Minister, voicing the central American country’s gratitude for its help with migrants arriving in Panama after a long and strenuous journey through the Darién Forest, their lives often threatened by aggressive and armed gangs.

Migrants arriving in Panama are increasing every year; there are now over 430,000 compared to the 240,000 in 2022. This number “is much more than we can cope with since people often arrive in desperate conditions. There are many who do not make it and die in the forest; numerous children arrive alone, having lost their parents during the long journey,” said the minister.

This is a “tragedy, an unacceptable loss of life,” replied Riccardo Paternò di Montecupo, reaffirming the Order of Malta’s intention to scale up the cooperation and assistance provided to Panama through its Association and Embassy in that country.

The Grand Chancellor stressed the importance of the conference to be held in Panama at the end of February 2024, in which all the Order of Malta’s institutions throughout the American continent will be present, together with the Grand Master and the high offices of the Grand Magistry.

At the end of the meeting, Fabrizio Colonna di Paliano, Receiver of the Common Treasure, presented the stamp celebrating 75 years of cooperation and friendship with Panama, to be issued jointly by the Magistral and Panamanian Post Offices on 26 October.

The respective ambassadors, Miroslava Rosas Vargas for the Republic of Panama and Lupo del Bono for the Order of Malta, were present at the meeting.