On the occasion of his official visit to the UN in Vienna for the 30th anniversary of the Sovereign Order of Malta’s status of Permanent Observer, Grand Chancellor Riccardo Paternò di Montecupo was received by the Minister for European and International Affairs of the Republic of Austria, Alexander Schallenberg.

An encounter that stresses the strong bond between the Sovereign Order of Malta and Austria, enjoying some of the longest diplomatic relations in the Order’s history. Moreover, the establishment of the Grand Priory of Austria dates back to the 12th century and the Order of Malta in Austria can rely on the humanitarian work of four relief organizations. The largest of these, Malteser Hospitaldienst Austria, was founded in 1956 to aid refugees arriving from Hungary and is currently engaged in numerous healthcare activities nationwide as well as responding to natural disasters and to the recent humanitarian emergency caused by the war in Ukraine.

The Grand Chancellor, Riccardo Paternò of Montecupo, thanked Minister Schallenberg for receiving him and for the support that the Austrian government has always offered for the social and humanitarian activities of the Grand Priory of Austria and its auxiliary organizations, helping children, refugees, the elderly, the disabled and the marginalized.

Also discussed was a possible support – through the Austrian Development Agency – for the Order’s activities in developing countries, such as the contribution to the Holy Family Hospital in Bethlehem, a project run by the Order of Malta in a region where the already precarious humanitarian conditions have further deteriorated over the past year. Also on the table was the humanitarian mission that the Order is organizing together with the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem and Malteser International, which has so far delivered 140 tons of aid to Gaza. Minister Schallenberg expressed his appreciation and closeness to the Order’s activities, expressing his willingness for future collaboration in the humanitarian field.