The Grand Master of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, Fra’ John Dunlap, participated in the rite of the closing of the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica, officiated by Pope Leo XIV, marking the conclusion of the Jubilee of Hope.
With the closing of the Holy Door, the Jubilee Year, which was opened on December 24, 2024, by Pope Francis, came to an end. This Jubilee saw the transition between two Pontiffs and culminated with Pope Leo XIV’s invitation to look to the future as “artisans of peace,” emphasizing that “the hope we proclaim comes from heaven, but must generate, here on earth, a new history.”
The 2025 Jubilee recorded an extraordinary attendance: 33,475,369 pilgrims from 185 countries visited Rome during the Holy Year. It was a major organizational effort that the Order of Malta supported throughout the Jubilee, by providing healthcare services at St. Peter’s Square and the papal basilicas, thanks to the contribution of over 2,200 volunteers from approximately 30 countries. Each week, more than 35 volunteers were active, organized into 8 groups composed of a doctor, nurse or paramedic, and assistants, supported by the 90 regular volunteers at the First Aid Post in St. Peter’s Square. Thanks to their commitment, around 3,000 interventions were carried out and the assistance offered to pilgrims ranged from basic medical care to the management of complex emergencies. The service was made possible by a dedicated coordination structure, shared operational protocols, and ongoing training and supervision.
The Order of Malta’s First Aid Post, located in the Braccio di Carlo Magno, has been a key healthcare presence for pilgrims for 75 years: it operates every day of the year and also serves as a coordination center for the other papal basilicas, in collaboration with the Vatican health authorities. During the Jubilee, the number of daily medical interventions increased significantly, tripling during the funerals of Pope Francis.
The participation of Grand Master Fra’ John Dunlap in the concluding Holy Door ceremony once again demonstrates the Order of Malta’s closeness to the Holy See and its concrete commitment to translating the spirit of the Jubilee into service, care, and solidarity for pilgrims from all over the world. This commitment has deep roots in the historical mission of the Order, founded in the 11th century to assist sick pilgrims and the most vulnerable, and continues today in supporting the fragile and safeguarding human dignity—the heart of the pilgrimage spirit that has defined the Order of Malta since its origins.
