Rome, 10 January 2026 – This morning at the Villa Magistrale in Rome, Grand Master Fra’ John Dunlap’s traditional new-year audience with the Diplomatic Corps accredited to the Sovereign Order of Malta focussed on its diplomatic and humanitarian mission from an increasingly global perspective.

Starting from the year just ended “of exceptional intensity, marked both by the spiritual significance of the Holy Year and by a momentous transition in the life of the Holy See” with “the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis and the subsequent election of His Holiness Pope Leo XIV,” the Grand Master recalled how “these events have profoundly resonated across both the life of the Universal Church and the broader international community.” Retracing the important milestones of diplomatic activity in 2025 involving every continent – also highlighted in the speech by Cameroon’s Ambassador Antoine Zanga, Dean of the Diplomatic Corps accredited to the Sovereign Order of Malta – the Grand Master outlined a clear programmatic approach for 2026.

“Latin America remains a region of paramount to the Order’s history and our historic engagement with the region, established in the post-war era, is underpinned by the enduring social contributions of our national associations.” Fra’ John Dunlap then announced that a regional conference is scheduled for next autumn in Buenos Aires, followed by a series of official visits to South America. “Africa remains a paramount priority, receiving substantial investment through from the specialised programmes of Ordre de Malte France and Malteser International,” humanitarian entities of the Order operating on the continent where the Order of Malta enjoys diplomatic relations with 39 countries.

The crises in the Middle East and Ukraine remain the Order of Malta’s major concerns. In the Holy Land, the position remains firm: condemnation of the October 7 attacks, release of the hostages and respect of international humanitarian law. “Looking towards the future, the Order is committed to participating in international reconstruction efforts – specifically those led by Egypt, the Palestinian Authority, and other partners – with a particular focus on addressing the acute health and educational needs of orphaned and malnourished children,” said Fra’ John Dunlap. And on Ukraine: “The destruction of homes, hospitals, schools, and energy facilities is unacceptable. Ensuring humanitarian access, supporting reconstruction, and achieving a sustained cessation of hostilities must be treated as immediate priorities, alongside diplomatic efforts aimed at navigating the complex path towards a just and lasting peace. In this context, the Order stands ready, should it be deemed useful, to make its resources available in support of initiatives conducive to dialogue, in a spirit of humanity and in full respect of its principles of neutrality and impartiality”.

Recalling that “the diplomatic action of the Order must always be viewed in close conjunction with its humanitarian presence on the ground, an engagement carefully adapted to the specific needs of each context, whether in highly developed economies or in regions confronting severe humanitarian crises,” the Grand Master concluded by indicating that “the scope of our diplomatic engagement, the courageous humanitarian action undertaken by the Order in some of the most acute crises of our time- particularly in Palestine, Lebanon, and Ukraine – and the steady expansion of our diplomatic relations all converge towards the same conclusion: the Order of Malta is assuming an increasingly global role.”

You can consult the full text of the speech of the 81st Grand Master of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta to the accredited Diplomatic Corps in this link.