The Grand Chancellor of the Sovereign Order of Malta, Riccardo Paternò di Montecupo, and the State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Slovak Republic, Rastislav Chovanec, signed a Memorandum of Understanding at the Magistral Palace in Rome to strengthen humanitarian assistance to the Lebanese people.

The Grand Chancellor expressed the Order of Malta’s gratitude for the Slovak government’s decision to donate medical equipment worth 200,000 euros, intended to enhance the Order’s dental care facilities in Lebanon, a country where the Order has been present for over 60 years, providing healthcare, psychosocial support and medical consultations to the most vulnerable communities and to a population once again affected by war.

The signing further strengthens the fruitful cooperation between Slovakia and the Order, founded on shared principles of solidarity, respect for human dignity and social justice. This is a tangible result of the dialogue initiated between Slovak President Peter Pellegrini and Grand Master Fra’ John Dunlap during their official visits to Rome in 2025 and to Bratislava in 2026. It was during the visit to Slovakia last April that Foreign Minister Juraj Blanár officially announced to the Grand Chancellor the intention to contribute to the Order’s activities in support of the Lebanese people.

This is a testament to the trust that the Slovak government places in the work of the Order of Malta, which has been active in the country since 2014 through the Malteser Aid Slovakia Relief Corps. Thanks to the contributions of more than 150 members and volunteers, the organization has carried out numerous social inclusion initiatives and healthcare programs for the elderly, the homeless, people with disabilities, Ukrainian refugees and the Roma.