At the ceremony for the 97° anniversary of the Lateran Pacts between Italy and the Holy See, the Grand Master of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, Fra’ John T. Dunlap, met with the President of the Italian Republic, Sergio Mattarella, and the Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin.

Giorgia Meloni, Prime Minister, Ignazio La Russa, President of the Senate, and Lorenzo Fontana, President of the Chamber of Deputies, were present at Palazzo Borromeo, seat of the Italian Embassy to the Holy See and the Sovereign Order of Malta.

The Grand Master also greeted the President of the Italian Episcopal Conference, Cardinal Matteo Maria Zuppi, the Secretary for Relations with States and International Organizations, Monsignor Paul Richard Gallagher, and the Substitute for General Affairs of the Secretariat of State, Monsignor Peña Parra.

Upon his arrival, the Grand Master was welcomed by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, Dean of the College of Cardinals, and Ambassador George Poulides, Dean of the Diplomatic Corps accredited to the Holy See.

The annual bilateral summit between Italy and the Holy See also celebrates the 42nd anniversary of the Agreement amending the Concordat.