The Grand Commander of the Sovereign Order of Malta, Fra’ Emmanuel Rousseau, paid a visit to Slovakia from September 14 to 17, during which he engaged in a series of high-level meetings and significant events including a meeting with the President of Slovakia Peter Pellegrini and with the Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Juraj Blanár where they discussed strengthening the relationship between the Sovereign Military Order of Malta and Slovakia.

During these talks, President Pellegrini underlined the very good relations and cooperation which exist between the Sovereign Order of Malta and the Slovak republic. He also recalled witnessing on several occasions the presence of the members of the Order and its volunteers in their service during big public events, as well as on the Slovak-Ukrainian boarder helping the refugees. President Pellegrini extended an official invitation for the Grand Master of the Order of Malta to make a state visit to Slovakia, a significant gesture marking the deepening diplomatic ties between the two entities.
On Sunday 15 September, the Grand Commander participated in the National pilgrimage and Holy Mass at the Monastery and Church of the Virgin Mary of the Seven Sorrows in Šaštín-Stráže, which was attended by high-ranking Slovak officials, including the President and various government representatives. Volunteers from the Order of Malta provided essential support such as first aid and water distribution.

On Monday 16 September the centerpiece of the Grand Commander’s trip took place with the celebratory inaugural Holy Mass in St. Martin’s Cathedral in Bratislava on the occasion of the establishment of the Slovak Association of the Order of Malta, which was celebrated by Mons. Stanislav Zvolenský the archbishop of Bratislava in the presence of the Apostolic Nuntio to the Slovak republic, representatives of the Slovak government and members of the Order. The Holy Mass and subsequent reception were attended also by the President of the Slovak republic.

“It is a great joy for me, as the Order’s Grand Commander, to be here today and celebrate with you the foundation of the Slovak Association of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta. This is the remarkable result of many years of hard work and diligent preparations. In a family, the birth of a new child is always a great joy after some labour time. It is probably the same with a new association. The child is born and all of us are around the cradle to wish it a long and prosperous existence” stated Fra’ Emmanuel Rousseau.

The Grand Commander took also part in a visit to the Malteser Aid Slovakia Center for Roma Children in Topolčany, where he learned about the Order’s efforts to support the Roma community and addressed issues of social integration and education.

The Grand Commander’s trip further highlighted the humanitarian and diplomatic mission of the Order of Malta in Slovakia and laid the foundation for future collaborations.