On 16 November 2025, the Embassy of the Sovereign Order of Malta to Romania joined the celebration of the International Day of the Poor at the St Don Luigi Orione Hospice in Bucharest. The event was attended by HE Giampiero Gloder, Apostolic Nuncio to Romania, together with Director of the Centre, Marius Bereșoaie, Father Damian, and Father János.
The Don Orione Centre is internationally renowned for its work in assisting the poor and caring for abandoned children. In Romania, the Order of Don Orione operates a large school in Oradea, a seminary in Iași, several houses offering shelter to those in need, and a hospice in Bucharest that hosts around forty elderly residents and more than fifty children and young people with varying degrees of disability.
The Don Orione institutions hold a special place in the heart of the Sovereign Order of Malta, which last year issued a commemorative stamp dedicated to the work and legacy of St Don Luigi Orione. They are also particularly dear to the Order of Malta Romania, whose members have regularly supported and visited the Bucharest hospice for over twenty years.
The Holy Mass, celebrated by HE Giampiero Gloder, included a homily focused on the meaning of poverty and the joy found in serving others. This was followed by a tour of the hospice and opportunities for personal interaction with residents, medical staff, and members of the religious community. The visit allowed the Apostolic Nuncio to observe the remarkable development of this centre of excellence since its foundation in the early 2000s.
Following the visit and the luncheon that concluded the celebration, Ambassador Roberto Musneci KM stated, “It has been a joy to join His Excellency the Apostolic Nuncio in his visit to the Don Orione Centre. This is the place where a few members of our Order have attended Mass for many years. We brought some of the guests to our pilgrimage in Lourdes, and we continue to regard Don Orione as a centre of excellence for social inclusion and care for those in need. We are grateful to Don Marius and all his predecessors for their work and friendship.”
