The Order of Malta has an enduring commitment to assisting migrants in the central Mediterranean, dating back to 2008. The Order’s Italian Relief Corps (CISOM) provides medical assistance during search and rescue operations for migrants, collaborating with the Coast Guard and the Guardia di Finanza to ensure immediate care for those rescued at sea.
On the anniversary of Pope Francis’ first pastoral journey to the island and on the occasion of the commemorations presided over by Pope Leo XIV, Grand Hospitaller Josef Blotz traveled to the island, accompanied by the President of the CISOM Foundation, Benedetto Barberini, and Deputy Director Fabrizio Celestini.
The Grand Hospitaller met CISOM personnel serving on Lampedusa, thanking doctors, nurses, rescuers and volunteers for their professionalism, dedication and compassionate service. He also had the opportunity to meet the civil, religious and military authorities working on the island, reaffirming the importance of close cooperation among institutions engaged in humanitarian assistance, emergency response and migration management. Meetings were also held with representatives of the Italian Civil Protection Department and the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
A significant part of the mission was dedicated to meeting the CISOM healthcare professionals deployed aboard Italian Coast Guard and Financial Guard patrol boats and Blotz had the opportunity to witness their activity closely. Their presence ensures that migrants rescued at sea receive immediate medical care from the very first moments after rescue, often in extremely demanding operational conditions.
The Grand Hospitaller also visited Favarolo Pier, where many rescue operations conclude, and the Gateway to Europe monument, a powerful symbol of remembrance and hope for all those who have crossed the Mediterranean in search of a safer future.
The programme included participation in the celebrations marking the anniversary of Pope Francis’ visit, including the Holy Mass celebrated by Pope Leo XIV, offering an opportunity to reflect on the enduring importance of welcoming, protecting and accompanying those who are most vulnerable. In his homily, the Holy Father invited the faithful to become witnesses of hope and fraternity, reminding them that every person rescued, welcomed and cared for is a brother or sister whose dignity must always be protected.
As humanitarian needs in the Central Mediterranean remain acute, the Order of Malta continues to place the protection of human dignity at the heart of its humanitarian mission and to offer compassionate care to migrants, transforming the Holy Father’s call into concrete acts of service and solidarity.
