In a letter addressed to French President, François Hollande, the Grand Master of the Sovereign Order of Malta Fra’ Matthew Festing has expressed his deepest condolences for the terrorist attack on the staff and offices of the weekly magazine Charlie Hebdo on the 7th of January, where twelve people lost their lives and others were left wounded, and the subsequent attacks where a further 5 people were killed.
“In this tragic moment, I wish to express our sincere condolences, closeness and spiritual solidarity to the families of all the victims and to the people of France” the Grand Master writes.
“The government of the Sovereign Order of Malta strongly condemns this horrific attack, firmly opposing all forms of violence, physical and moral” states Fra’ Matthew Festing.
In a solidarity gesture the offices of Ordre de Malte France in Paris are flying their flag at half-mast.
