Grand Master of Order of Malta in Auschwitz on Remembrance Day
On the International Day of Remembrance, the Grand Master of the Sovereign Order of Malta, Fra’ John Dunlap, participated in the commemoration event held in Poland at the former Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp, along with numerous heads of state and world leaders. The ceremony, dedicated to victims of the Holocaust on the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the Nazi death camp, was a crucial moment to renew our commitment to defend human dignity, respect fundamental rights and fight all forms of discrimination. These are the pillars of the Order of Malta’s mission worldwide.
During the ceremony, the Grand Master paid tribute to the victims of the atrocities committed during World War II, reaffirming the Order of Malta’s role in building a society based on the values of dialogue and peace.
The Grand Master’s participation in the commemoration at Auschwitz underlines the need to keep historical memory alive as a bulwark against hatred and intolerance. In this context, the Order of Malta renews its commitment to the victims of war, persecution and humanitarian crises, with the aim of promoting a culture of respect and universal brotherhood.
For the occasion, Fra’ John Dunlap was received this morning by the Mayor of Krakow, Aleksander Miszalski; the focus of the talks was the Order of Malta’s projects in Poland, including the Rehabilitation Centre for disabled children, which supports around 800 children and their families every year.
The Order of Malta’s humanitarian action in Poland during World War II
During World War II the Order of Malta distinguished itself in Poland for its humanitarian commitment through its local association. At the start of the conflict, the Order opened a 200-bed hospital near Warsaw Old Town and just a few months later thousands of people had been assisted. On 3 October 1940, after the capitulation of Warsaw, the German military authorities took control of the facility and transformed it into a military hospital. The Order’s volunteers and medical staff distributed food and with courage and dedication tried to bring medical assistance to the Jewish population, despite the prohibitions imposed by the Nazi occupation, often risking their own lives to save those of others.
Several members of the Order died while working in the hospital. Roman Chłapowski and Dominik Łempicki were killed during the bombing, while the honorary chaplain of the Polish Association, Professor Alfred Dobiecki, was seriously injured.
Stanisław Sławski, a Polish lawyer and knight of Magistral Grace, was arrested by the Gestapo in 1942 and deported to the Auschwitz-Birkenau camp, where he died in March 1943.
Not to be forgotten either is the ‘silent’ role of the Order of Malta’s military chaplains, Don Pirro Scavizzi and Don Quirino Paganuzzi, who reported the massacres and deportations of Jews to the Vatican.
