Rome, 27 January 2024 – The third and final day of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta’s Ambassadors Conference opened this morning as the Holy Father received in private audience all the participating ambassadors.

Address of the Holy Father

The morning session is mainly dedicated to matters concerning institutional and diplomatic communication, scenarios and challenges for effective communication, instruments and strategy for managing communication during crises and cultural diplomacy as a communicative resource. In conclusion, a focus on the Grand Magistry’s communication tools for the Order of Malta’s humanitarian and religious diplomacy.

In the afternoon, instead, the Order’s over 100 Ambassadors will focus on the delicate issue of combating false orders and managing and rationalising the Order of Malta’s assets.

Yesterday great interest was aroused by the reflections of Father Paolo Benanti, AI Advisor to the Holy Father, on the complicated relationship between humanity and artificial intelligence. This was followed by a high-level panel on the themes of humanitarian aid and diplomacy and interreligious dialogue, their ethical dimensions and operational challenges in the current international context, in which authoritative speakers took part, such as Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi, President of the Pontifical Council for Culture, Giuliano Amato, former Italian Prime Minister, Cindy McCain, Executive Director of the World Food Programme and Amy Pope, Director General of the International Organization for Migration.

The conference ended with an interesting speech by Cardinal Lorenzo Baldisseri, Secretary General Emeritus of the Synod of Bishops, who illustrated some experiences of Vatican diplomacy.