The Grand Master of the Order of Malta, Fra’ Matthew Festing, paid a private visit to Poland on October 14-17, seeing at first hand a number of the wide-ranging charitable works run by the Order’s Polish Association. His Highness was accompanied by the President of the Polish Association, Andrzej Potworowski.

Among his many engagements, His Highness met with Stanislaw Gadecki, Metropolitan Archbishop of Poznan and together they signed the founding document of the new Oncological Outpatient Clinic in Poznan. The Grand Master also met with the members of the Order in Poznan.

Paying a special visit to the Marian Sanctuary in Czestochowa, the Grand Master was met by the Association’s Vice President Krzysztof Moczurad and Chancellor Adam Leszczyriski, and after a Mass before the icon of Our Lady of Czestochowa, he visited the sanctuary’s monastery, treasury and library. Travelling on to Kraków, he was greeted by children, parents and staff of the Order of Malta Centre of Assistance for Handicapped Children and their families. The Grand Master inspected the activities of the Centre and expressed his appreciation for the support it gives disabled children and their families.

Next day, following a Mass celebrated in the Church of St. Maximilian Kolbe, His Highness met with members of the Order and staff from the Order of Malta Medical Corps. And at the Royal Castle of Wawel, Jan Ostrowski, Director of the National Collection of Art at Wawel took His Highness through Wawel Cathedral and the royal tombs. The visit concluded with a Mass in Wawel Cathedral concelebrated with Bishop Tadeusz Pieronek.