Grand Master Fra’ John Dunlap, the Sovereign Council and a large representation of the diplomatic corps accredited to the Sovereign Military Order of Malta celebrated the solemnity of St. John the Baptist, patron saint of the Order of Malta, on 24 June with a Mass in the Basilica of Santi Bonifacio e Alessio in Rome attended, among others, by the Secretary for Relations with States and International Organizations, Monsignor Paul Richard Gallagher.
The Mass, concelebrated by the prelate Monsignor Luis Manuel Cuña Ramos, was presided over by the Order of Malta’s Cardinal Patron, Gianfranco Ghirlanda SJ, who in his homily recalled how «the awareness that one’s life and that of the Order to which one belongs does not depend on one’s human resources, but on the will of God». He thus spoke of the Order of Malta as a divine project that has spanned the centuries, «accompanied by the hand of God». Recalling the Patron Saint, he said that «St. John the Baptist is “witness to the Gospel”» and that «to be witness to the Gospel means to attest, to affirm the truth of what is narrated in the Gospel», a mission to which all members of the Order of Malta are called.
The anniversary has also been celebrated in the many countries where the Order operates through its charitable and humanitarian network. On five continents, Grand Priories, National Associations, Embassies and Relief Corps promoted religious initiatives and gatherings to pay homage to the Patron Saint and renew their commitment to serving the most vulnerable.
Today, June 26, Grand Chancellor Riccardo Paternò di Montecupo and the Receiver of the Common Treasure Fra’ Francis Vassallo attended Mass at the San Giovanni Battista Hospital in Rome, a facility managed by the Order’s Italian Association and named after its patron saint. Some patients and medical staff from the hospital also took part in the celebration, continuing a yearly tradition that accompanies the commemorations dedicated to St. John the Baptist. This anniversary was part of the celebrations for the 150th anniversary of the Order of Malta’s Italian Association and continued with a visit to the hospital wards.
