Grand Master Fra’ Andrew Bertie received Philarete, Patriarchal Exarch of all Belarus, Metropolitan of Minsk and Slutsk, with his retinue, at the Magistral Palace. The Metropolitan is in Italy for a pilgrimage to the tomb of St. Nicholas.

During their most cordial meeting, their discussions ranged over a number of topics, Including the development of the Order’s medical and welfare initiatives in Belarus.

Those present included the Order of Malta’s Grand Chancellor Jean-Pierre Mazery, the Prelate Msgr. Angelo Acerbi and the Order’s Ambassador to Belarus, Paul Friedrich Freiherr von Fuhrherr.