The war in Ukraine and humanitarian interventions, assistance after the earthquake in Turkey and Syria, rescue operations in the Mediterranean Sea. Not to mention regular projects such as hospitals, mobile clinics and volunteer corps. These were some of the topics discussed this morning during the meeting between the over fifty Deputy Chiefs of Mission of the embassies accredited to the Sovereign Order of Malta and the Order’s representatives.

The Secretary General for Foreign Affairs of the Order of Malta, Amb. Stefano Ronca, opened the meeting in the Magistral Villa in Rome. He underlined the major institutional commitments of the Order of Malta’s humanitarian diplomacy involving current international issues, noting that the Order of Malta is ‘constantly engaged in making its voice heard with its multilateral missions to the United Nations and major international organizations. We are involved in poverty reduction, health care, humanitarian aid, emergency services, promotion of sustainable development, human trafficking, migration and refugees and interfaith dialogue’.

The Order of Malta’s Ambassador to the Holy See, Antonio Zanardi Landi, recalled the Order of Malta’s commitment to peace, dialogue and the protection of religious minorities. In describing the work of his embassy, he stressed the importance of cooperation with the Holy See’s dicasteries.

Finally, the Grand Hospitaller’s Head of Cabinet, Ivo Graziani, gave examples and updated data on the main humanitarian interventions and ongoing projects in the five continents.