Fra’ Giacomo Dalla Torre will be received by the Slovenian President Pahor and will participate in the national pilgrimage for the sick and disabled

Rome 14 June 2019 – Grand Master Fra’ Giacomo Dalla Torre del Tempio di Sanguinetto will make an official visit to Slovenia from Friday 14th to Monday 17th June with institutional meetings and excursions to some of the country’s most significant places. On the morning of Monday 17th, the Grand Master accompanied by the Sovereign Order of Malta delegation – with Grand Chancellor Albrecht Boeselager – will be received by the President of the Republic of Slovenia, Borut Pahor. In Ljubljana, after a wreath-laying ceremony at the “Monument to the Victims of All Wars” – symbol of the reconciliation of the Slovenian nation after World War II – the President of Slovenia and the Grand Master will have a private encounter in the presidential hall followed by a general meeting between the two delegations. The Grand Master and the President of Slovenia will then issue a joint press release before continuing with the other scheduled meetings, including that with the Slovenian Prime Minister Marjan Šarec.

During his visit to Slovenia, with which the Order of Malta has enjoyed diplomatic relations since 1992, the Grand Master will meet the archbishop of Ljubljana Monsignor Stanislav Zore and will participate in the national pilgrimage of the sick and disabled, for which a mass will be celebrated by the archbishop Monsignor Alojz Cvikl on Saturday 15th in the Mary Help of Christians Basilica in Brezje. After having personally greeted the volunteers of the Order of Malta’s association in Slovenia, the Grand Master will then visit the picturesque village of Bled and the Church of the Assumption of Mary on a small island on Lake Bled.

The Order of Malta delegation, led by Fra’ Giacomo Dalla Torre, will go to Gora Oljka and afterwards will be received in the museum of the “Castle of the Commenda”, one of the most ancient Commanderies of the Order in Slovenia.

The Order of Malta in Slovenia has contributed to providing basic necessities after natural disasters and participates in social inclusion programmes for the Roma people. Its first-aid service has been in operation since 2016. The Order’s embassy in Ljubljana is also engaged in various activities for the elderly and the vulnerable, and is in regular contact with the children’s hospital in the capital for donations of equipment and medicines.