In the last few days, Grand Hospitaller Josef D. Blotz has visited the Holy Land, one of the major crisis regions on earth following the attacks of 7 October 2023 and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. This visit was to stress the priorities of the Sovereign Order of Malta’s works under the supervision of the Grand Hospitaller.

The first meeting was dedicated to an in-depth exchange with the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, and members of the Patriarchate. This very constructive meeting, the third in 18 months, was organized within the framework of the cooperation between the Order and the Patriarchate, where basic items are provided for north Gaza, such as food, as well as a primary healthcare clinic project, hopefully soon to be set up in Gaza. The meeting provided an opportunity to thank the Patriarch for his trust and cooperation since the beginning of this joint project last year.

The following meetings took place in the German Embassy to Israel in Tel Aviv with Ambassador Steffen Seibert and with the German Chargé d’Affaires to the Palestinian Authority, Mrs. Ulrike Bormann in Jerusalem. The focus was on the crisis in Gaza and gratitude was expressed to the German Government for having provided the first considerable funds to start the Gaza mission in July 2024.

Finally, the Grand Hospitaller met with the Minister for Social Development of Palestine, Dr. Samah Hamad, in Ramallah. In this meeting the leading topic was the Holy Family Hospital in Bethlehem, offering maternity and neonatal care since 1990, a flagship activity of the Order of Malta. Since the opening of the hospital, 105,000 children have been delivered and cared for. Moreover, the minister was informed of the Order’s intentions in the Gaza strip in broad terms.

On the last day of the mission, the Grand Hospitaller visited the Holy Family Hospital, presenting the new action plan to the Ordre de Malte France management and, with an all-hands-on meeting, to the entire staff of the hospital. This plan is based on a strategic review, aiming to optimize the hospital’s service, including management, administration, funding and development challenges. The staff was invited to share this moment with members of the International Board of Trustees. The Grand Hospitaller especially thanked the personnel, committed to this mission under the eight-pointed cross for 35 years.

The projects visited by the Grand Hospitaller are part of the Order’s decades-long activities throughout the Middle East. This regional approach is also in line with the objectives of the Lebanon Conference in Rome in April this year, organized jointly by the Order’s Grand Chancellor and the German Ambassador to the Order of Malta.

Photo-Credit: Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem; Marie Chowanietz