“Our Order as a Global Force”, interview with Grand Master for L’Orma magazine
Grand Master Fra’ John Dunlap outlines the guidelines for the Order of Malta’s humanitarian mission.
“The reform brings us back to our religious nature and shows the Pope’s concrete closeness”.
Your Highness, after the traditional audience on the feast of St. John in June 2025, you recently met with the Holy Father Leo XIV again, in a private audience. How did the meeting with the Pontiff go?
The meeting I requested with Pope Leo XIV was intense and deeply constructive. It took place in an atmosphere of full harmony and collaboration. The Holy Father shows a tangible closeness with the Order of Malta and follows our path attentively. Our mission – to defend the faith and serve the most vulnerable in the world – is shared and supported. This direct dialogue strengthens our identity and our responsibility. The Holy Father also congratulated the Order on its great commitment during the Jubilee thanks to the contribution of over 2,200 volunteers from some 30 countries.
The Order of Malta is first and foremost a religious order of the Catholic Church, as the Constitution recalls. What does this mean in light of the reform process that began in 2022?
The reform brought our religious nature back to the centre, strengthening our spiritual dimension and the role of members who have taken vows. This is not just a regulatory update, but a profound renewal. We are working to reorganize the lives of the professed Knights, aware of the richness and complexity of their diverse origins. It is a serious, gradual path, requiring balance and vision.
At the same time, the entry of new aspirants to religious life from all over the world, necessitates their solid education and genuine discernment. I ask all members of the Order to support this journey with prayer. This is where the strength of our humanitarian mission comes from, which today continues with renewed momentum and credibility.
What about your diplomatic mission?
Our diplomatic presence continues to grow significantly. In 2024 we initiated official relations with Great Britain and in 2025 we established bilateral relations with Burundi and the Principality of Andorra. Today, we have bilateral relations with 115 countries. This demonstrates international confidence in the Order of Malta. Our ambassadors, as outposts even in some very remote areas of the world, are appointed on a voluntary basis and they are required to make an arduous commitment in terms of time and resources to devote to the Order of Malta’s mission. We are convinced that it is vital to invest in expertise and training, as demonstrated by the establishment of a day dedicated to the preparation of newly-appointed ambassadors. The Order of Malta is assuming an increasingly global role, not least thanks to the courageous humanitarian action it has taken in some of the most serious crises of our time, particularly in Palestine, Lebanon and Ukraine. This is a responsibility we must take into account.
How are you handling the economic and assets aspect?
With the mandate of the Receiver of the Common Treasure, Fra’ Francis Vassallo, we are addressing issues inherited from the past. The Order’s vast but complex heritage in Italy is influenced by decisions and conditions that have developed over many decades. Today these administrative choices require an extraordinary effort to be managed efficiently. The current Sovereign Council has long since launched a reorganization and enhancement programme, based on criteria of efficiency, transparency and accountability, which is already producing concrete results.
