The Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, Sergey Vershinin, was received by an Order of Malta delegation led by Amb. Stefano Ronca, Secretary General for Foreign Affairs. The meeting was held on 27 July at the Magistral Villa in Rome.

Many issues were addressed during the talks, held in an atmosphere of great cordiality, including the situation in the Middle East and in North Africa, the migration phenomenon and the Russian Federation’s relations with the United States and the European Union.

During the meeting, Tsar Paul I, Grand Master of the Order of Malta between 1798 and 1801, was remembered as well as historic moments linking the Order of Malta to Russia. There is also the intention to celebrate next year the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations, established in 1992.

The Order of Malta in Russia currently organizes social activities for needy families and rough sleepers in Moscow and Saint Petersburg, even more essential during the pandemic crisis.

Also discussed was the Order of Malta’s possible participation in the “World Conference on Intercultural and Interfaith Dialogue: Working together for peace and humanity” to be held in May 2022 in St Petersburg. In this context, the exhibition on the Holy Shroud will be inaugurated in Moscow next autumn thanks to the support of the Order of Malta in Germany.

The meeting was attended by the respective ambassadors, Alexander Avdeev for Russia and Aimone di Savoia for the Sovereign Order of Malta. The Order of Malta’s Ambassador to the Holy See, Antonio Zanardi Landi, was also present.