The Grand Master of the Sovereign Order of Malta, Fra’ John Dunlap, accompanied by the Grand Chancellor, Riccardo Paternò di Montecupo, met with the United Nations Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, on Saturday 21 September at UN headquarters in New York. The Grand Master was in New York to deliver an address during the United Nations Summit of the Future, on Sunday afternoon. In attendance was the Secretary General for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Giampaolo Cantini, and the Order’s Ambassador to the United Nations in New York, Ambassador Paul Beresford-Hill.

This occasion marked the first time a Grand Master of the Sovereign Order of Malta visited the United Nations in New York, met with the Secretary General and participated in such a high profile event of Heads of State and Government. During the meeting the Grand Master awarded the Secretary General with the highest decoration of the Order, the Grand Cross with Collar of pro Merito Melitense.

The meeting with the UN Secretary General took place in a very friendly and cordial atmosphere. The Secretary General expressed his admiration for the assistance provided by the Sovereign Order of Malta around the world and in many cases under difficult circumstances. “Your action in so many areas of the world is a beacon of hope. We still have solid people and solid organizations”.

The Grand Master highlighted the historic occasion of his visit to New York and recalled some of the most prominent programs of humanitarian assistance brought about by the Sovereign Order of Malta, in Ukraine in particular.

The Grand Chancellor illustrated in turn the areas and the sectors of activity of the Sovereign Order of Malta worldwide, including many services aimed at the social inclusion of the most vulnerable categories. He also recalled some of the hospitals run by the Order in many countries, with particular reference to Bethlehem and Timor Leste.

In concluding the meeting, the UN Secretary General reiterated his appreciation for the work of the Order: “We cherish your cooperation” he said.

In his intervention at the Summit of the Future, the Grand Master underlined that the Sovereign Order of Malta shares the sense of hope and the determination that inspires the Pact of the Future adopted by the Summit. He stressed that the Sovereign Order of Malta looks in positive terms and with confidence at the future. He noted that “Technology and scientific innovation, artificial intelligence in particular, may carry substantial improvements and advances for humankind, but the international community should never lose sight of the most vulnerable and disadvantaged groups, to which the Order of Malta traditionally devotes its humanitarian activities.”

The Grand Master renewed the appeal of the Sovereign Order of Malta demanding respect for International Humanitarian Laws and for the protection of civilians and relief operators in situations of conflict.

In this spirit, the Grand Master recalled the most significant activities conducted by the Order of Malta on the ground, particularly in Ukraine and currently in Gaza, where we work closely with the Latin Patriarchate in Jerusalem.

Fra’ John Dunlap also highlighted that the Order attaches utmost importance to the goal of safeguarding and promoting religious freedom and stressed the positive role that faith based organizations can play as vehicles of conflict mediation, social advancement and sustainable development.