Cetinje/Podgorica, 17 March 2026 – The Grand Master of the Sovereign Order of Malta, Fra’ John T. Dunlap, made an official visit to Montenegro, marking the first time a Grand Master has visited in the history of relations between the Order and the Balkan country.

The visit began in Cetinje, the ancient capital of Montenegro, with an official meeting between the Grand Master and the President of the Republic, Jakov Milatović, at the Palazzo Blu, the presidential residence. After a welcoming ceremony, Dunlap and Milatović held a private conversation, followed by a bilateral meeting with their respective delegations. The talks confirmed the excellent state of relations between the Sovereign Order of Malta and Montenegro, which this year marks their twentieth anniversary.

During the meeting, the Grand Master expressed gratitude for the invitation and hospitality, emphasizing the historical and symbolic value of the visit, and reaffirmed the Order of Malta’s commitment to strengthening humanitarian cooperation with Montenegro, particularly in the health sector and in assisting the most vulnerable people. Topics discussed also included the prospect of developing a volunteer corps to support social services at the local level, and the importance of innovative health projects, including the introduction in the country of a neonatal hemodialysis service for premature infants suffering from acute kidney failure, as well as the launch of a mobile medical unit to provide health screenings in the most remote inland areas.

Great appreciation was also expressed for Montenegro’s commitment to peace, regional stability, and Euro-Atlantic integration, in line with an approach that reflects the founding values of the Order of Malta’s humanitarian and diplomatic mission. Both parties shared concern about ongoing conflicts and the erosion of international humanitarian law, reaffirming the need for a multilateral approach to the protection of civilians and humanitarian workers in accordance with the Geneva Conventions.

The Grand Master also recalled that the Order of Malta is an Associate State of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean (PAM), whose twentieth plenary session will be held this year in Montenegro, confirming the country’s growing role in regional dialogue.

On the sidelines of the meeting, the Grand Master and President Milatović participated in a symbolic “Tree of friendship” planting ceremony in the gardens of the Palazzo Blu, a gesture that seals their strong ties of friendship.

Afterwards, the delegations visited the National Museum of Montenegro to pay homage to the icon of Our Lady of Philermos, symbol par excellence of the Marian spirituality of the Order of Malta. The icon, celebrated on September 8 and venerated worldwide by members of the Order, has been kept in Cetinje since 1997, when it was rediscovered after decades of searching.

The visit also marked an important step forward in bilateral cooperation with the signing of a Cooperation Agreement between the Sovereign Order of Malta and the Republic of Montenegro. The agreement was signed by the Grand Hospitaller of the Order of Malta, Josef D. Blotz, and the Montenegrin Minister of Health, Vojislav Šimun, in the presence of the Grand Master and President Milatović. The agreement provides a legal framework for the development of future humanitarian and social initiatives in the country.

In the afternoon, the Grand Chancellor Riccardo Paternò di Montecupo met with the Montenegrin Deputy Prime Minister, Filip Ivanović, to discuss prospects for strengthening diplomatic cooperation and multilateral dialogue. During the long and cordial meeting, various topics were explored: bilateral relations between the Order and Montenegro, which will receive a new impulse from the current visit; Montenegro’s accession process to the European Union; and the main international crisis scenarios.

At the same time, the Grand Hospitaller, accompanied by the Minister of Health, visited the Clinical Centre of Montenegro, where they discussed collaborative health projects and future initiatives to support the country’s health system.