Order of Malta’s Hospitaller Charisma at the heart of “The Pastoral Care of Pilgrimages” conference
On 13 March 2026, the Casa La Salle in Rome hosted the “The Pastoral Care of Pilgrimages” conference, an event organized by the Fondazione Pellegrinaggi Italiani of the Sovereign Order of Malta. The meeting offered a moment for debating, learning and sharing the spiritual mission of the pilgrimages the Foundation organizes annually to the main Marian shrines, with a particularly heartfelt participation in those of Lourdes and Loreto.
The Grand Prior of Rome, the Grand Prior of Naples and Sicily and the Prosecutor General of the Grand Priory of Lombardy and Venice took part in the event. Together with the Grand Priory Delegates, Council members and the Organizing Committee of the Fondazione Pellegrinaggi Italiani, the participants reaffirmed that pilgrimages represent the beating heart of the Order of Malta’s spiritual life and its centuries-old mission of Christian witness.
The conference programme profited from high-profile contributions that explored the topic through different lenses. Monsignor Luis Manuel Cuña Ramos, Prelate of the Order of Malta, and Sister Rebecca Nazzaro, Director of the Pilgrimage Pastoral Office of the Vicariate of Rome, offered profound reflections on the theological value of the journey, defining the pilgrimage as the “Gate of the New Evangelization”. They were joined by Monsignor Maurizio Stefanutti, Spiritual Director of the Foundation, and Carlo dei Conti Vitalini Sacconi, Coordinator General of the Lourdes International Committee, who discussed the unbreakable bond between pastoral training and the reception of Our Lords the Sick.
Care for the sick has been reaffirmed as the cornerstone of the Order’s hospitaller charisma. In addition to the spiritual dimension, the conference realistically analysed the organizational challenges and future prospects of national pilgrimages, highlighting the desire to constantly improve the quality of service and foster ever-greater participation.
To counter the decline in attendance, the Order is focusing on involving the new generations. Proposals include adopting digital tools, improving the practicality of service uniforms and introducing “below-cost” quotas for young people, funded through fundraising events and benefactors’ support.
On the sidelines of the meeting, Fra’ Nicola Tegoni, President of the Fondazione Pellegrinaggi Italiani, expressed his gratitude, emphasizing the importance of territorial synergy: “I thank everyone who spoke at the Conference. It is essential to maintain a solid connection with all members of the Order who follow, develop and support pilgrimages in the area. They are entrusted with the task of overseeing the pastoral care of pilgrimages, of charting a common path of reflection and sharing, at the service of Our Lords the Sick in the spirit of the Order’s charisma.”
The event concluded with the hope of strengthening coordination among Delegations and fully exploiting the global character of the faith experience, promoting virtuous initiatives such as summer camps and year-round spiritual training courses.
