On 8 September 1565, after a three-month siege, the Ottoman army left Malta. On 8 September 2015, to commemorate the 450th anniversary of what has gone down in history as the Great Siege, 300 of the Order of Malta’s members from five continents gathered on the island.
An eventful programme, organized by the Government of the Republic of Malta in cooperation with the Order’s Maltese Association, to celebrate one of the most significant episodes in the history of the archipelago, inextricably linked with the history of the Order of Malta.
In Verdala Palace, the President of the Republic, Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca, received the Grand Commander of the Order, Fra’ Ludwig Hoffmann von Rumerstein, accompanied by the Order of Malta’s Sovereign Council and 300 members. Prime Minister Joseph Muscat offered a luncheon in honour of the Order in the Holy Infirmary, the hospital built under Grand Master Jean de la Cassiere in 1574, opening his address with a meaningful “welcome home”.
As Grand Master Fra’ Matthew Festing had hoped during his state visit to Malta last April, the 450th anniversary was an opportunity to encourage dialogue and understanding among peoples. Very significant was the presence, together with the Order’s members, of Imam Mohamed El Sadi, leader of the Muslims on Malta, alongside Archbishop Charles J. Scicluna, in St. Lawrence’s church in Birgu to pray for all those who lost their lives on both fronts during the Great Siege.
On 8 September, the mass in St. John’s Co-Cathedral in Valletta, masterpiece of Baroque art and architecture built at the time of the knights, was the highest moment of the commemorations. Ahead of the celebration, presided over by Archbishop Charles J. Scicluna, there was a procession of the Order’s knights and dames through the centre of the capital.
On the occasion of the anniversary, the Order of Malta’s Grand Chancellor, Albrecht Boeselager, had important talks with leaders of Maltese institutions including Prime Minister Joseph Muscat, Foreign Minister George Vella and Speaker of the House of Representatives Anġlu Farrugia. The matters discussed included humanitarian cooperation for the migrant crisis in Europe and the opening of Fort Sant’Angelo to the public, since the restoration works are now being completed .
