A photographic exhibition dedicated to the Sovereign Order of Malta was inaugurated yesterday in the Hotel Rosaleda in Encamp, Principality of Andorra in the presence of Mònica Bonell, Andorran Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Imma Tor, Andorran Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Fra’ Emmanuel Rousseau, Grand Commander of the Order of Malta. The ribbon cutting took place in a sociable atmosphere with the participation of several guests and the local press.
“900 years in the field, serving the neediest”, with the support of Fundació Sant Romà, is the title of the exhibition, which consists of 15 photographic panels illustrating some of the humanitarian activities and assistance in the 120 countries where the Sovereign Order of Malta is present. They range from the action taken to support the Spanish population affected by DANA last November to the massive humanitarian operation carried out in Ukraine in recent years to the work of the Holy Family Hospital, run by the Order of Malta as a unique model of assistance and social cohesion in Bethlehem, to mention just a few examples.
“As we can see today in this exhibition our Sovereign Order works tirelessly to improve our world. The Order of Malta believes in an international system based on respect for international law and the central role of multilateral cooperation and of the United Nations,” explained the Grand Commander. “When carrying out its projects, the Order is guided by the principles of neutrality and independence of humanitarian aid, which must be offered without distinction or discrimination. This is where our historic ties can be projected into the present and our future can develop from the mutual recognition that together we can be more efficient, meaningful and stronger,” he concluded.
In the morning, there was a working meeting between the Minister of Foreign Affairs Imma Tor, the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport Mònica Bonell and the Grand Commander Fra’ Emmanuel Rousseau, where possibilities of collaboration between the Principality of Andorra and the Sovereign Order of Malta in the context of international cooperation were discussed. The process of mutual rapprochement was thus also addressed, with the idea of promoting cooperation in third countries.