An opportunity to bring people closer to the Order of Malta by presenting the main activities and characteristics of the ancient Hospitaller Order founded in the Holy Land in 11th century. The Order’s first World Day was celebrated on Saturday 14 October. For the first time, the event crossed Italy’s national borders, becoming the Order of Malta World Day with ten other countries participating in the initiative. Various proposals from the United States to Australia aim to familiarize people with the Order of Malta, offering first-aid courses and medical advice in Albania and recreational and social activities in Panama.

The Order Malta’s tents were set up in 34 Italian piazzas. The Grand Master of the Sovereign Order of Malta, Fra’ John Dunlap, personally visited two of the piazzas in Rome, greeting and thanking the Order’s members and volunteers.

“Once again we are here to commemorate our millenary charisma,” said the Grand Chancellor of the Order of Malta, Riccardo Paternò di Montecupo. On Saturday morning he visited Piazza San Lorenzo in Lucina in Rome, together with the Grand Commander Fra’ Emmanuel Rousseau and the Receiver of the Common Treasure Fabrizio Colonna. The focus was on current emergencies: “This is a dramatic moment: pain is flowing from all over the world,” said the Grand Chancellor, recalling that “the Order has been working for thousands of years for those in need, regardless of religion, beliefs, ethnicity and geographical origin.”

The Grand Chancellor confirmed the Order of Malta’s commitment to Ukraine – where since the outset of war it has been distributing basic necessities in over 60 places nationwide and running aid programmes for refugees and displaced persons – and in the Middle East where some 4,500 babies are born every year in the Order of Malta’s Holy Family Hospital in Bethlehem.

Save the date: the second World Day will be held on Saturday, 12 October 2024.