Credentials presented by Portugal, the Russian Federation and Lithuania

Rome, 22/05/2013

The Grand Master of the Order of Malta, Fra’ Matthew Festing, received in audience in the Magistral Palace for the presentation of their Letters of Credence, the new Ambassadors of:
- Portugal, H.E. António Carlos CARVALHO de ALMEIDA RIBEIRO
- Russian Federation, H.E. Alexander AVDEEV
- Lithuania, H.E. Irena VAIŠLAITÉ

Ban Ki-moon thanks the Order of Malta for its indefatigable commitment to serving the poor

New York, 18/05/2013

The Secretary General of the UN’s words to the Order of Malta’s Ambassador for the 900th anniversary of the Pie Postulatio Voluntatis

The Order of Malta has always been the UN’s faithful ally in achieving the Third Millennium Goals, said Ban Ki-moon, Secretary General of the United Nations, during a diplomatic reception in its headquarters on May 9 last.

The Order of Malta’s 55th International Pilgrimage to Lourdes has just ended

Rome, 10/05/2013

For the past 55 years the streets of Lourdes have been filled with the Order of Malta’s pilgrims during the first week in May. This time some 1,300 sick people were among the over 6,500 members and volunteers coming from 36 countries on all continents.
It was a special pilgrimage this year since it marked the 900th anniversary of the promulgation of the solemn Privilege with which Pope Paschal II officially recognized the monastic community of St. John of Jerusalem in 1113. An anniversary that the Grand Master Fra’ Matthew Festing wanted to emphasize by meeting members and volunteers during the traditional ceremony for consigning the participation medal.