On June 29, 2023, the Embassy of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta to the Republic of Estonia was officially inaugurated in Tallin. Diplomatic relations between the Order of Malta and Estonia were established in March 2020. The first Ambassador of the Order of Malta to Estonia, Manfred Ritter Mautner von Markhof, expressed his deepest gratitude to the Republic of Estonia for its warm welcome and reiterated the Order of Malta’s intention to support those in need.

In his address, Margus Tsahkna, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Estonia, who also attended the opening ceremony, underscored the importance of goodwill, charity, care, and cooperation in these turbulent times. He highlighted ongoing efforts and future requirements to support people in Ukraine, particularly children who have fallen victim to human trafficking.

The Apostolic Nuncio in the Baltic states Archbishop Petar Rajić, accompanied by Bishop Philippe Jourdan, the Apostolic Administrator in Estonia, and Bishop Darius Trijonis, the Auxiliary Bishop of Vilnius, Lithuania, gave their blessing to the newly opened embassy and the mission of the Order of Malta in the Baltic country.

Prior to the opening ceremony, Holy Mass was celebrated in the St. Peter and Paul Cathedral in Tallinn. Representatives of the Order of Malta from Austria, Germany, Poland, and Lithuania were in attendance as invited guests.

The occasion also marked the official opening of the Order of Malta’s charity foundation in Tallin – formally established on May 12, 2023 – whose primary goal is to introduce and promote the values and principles of the Order of Malta in a country where the Order is little known. Rooted in the Order of Malta’s mission, the Foundation is primarily focused on social projects that provide continuous support for the forgotten or excluded members of society.