From 28 February to 2 March, the three-day Conference of the Grand Priors, Regents of Sub-priories, and Presidents of National Associations was held in Rome, where the Order of Malta Romania was represented by Count Tibor Kálnoky KM, the President of the Romanian Association of the Order of Malta (AROM).

The Conference provided a forum to discuss the impact of ongoing humanitarian initiatives and to reinforce relations and connections between the Order’s 50 National Associations, the 10 Priories, the 45 Relief Corps, and other humanitarian bodies active on five continents.

On the first day, the Grand Master opened the conference with a speech which stressed how important it was that “the Grand Magistry, the National Associations, and the Relief Corps should be acting together, working towards the same goal: to ensure the growth of the Order worldwide and the development and improvement of its humanitarian activities”. For this, he added, “the Order and all its parts must head towards the same destination: that is, the fulfilment of our Mission to serve the sick and the poor”. Afterwards, the audience was addressed by HE Riccardo Paternò di Montecupo KM, Grand Chancellor of the Order, and the Presidents of the Associations participated in sessions on spirituality, governance of the Order, and resource management.

The second day was dedicated to strategic issues, including communication, fundraising, and philanthropy. During the working sessions, the Order of Malta Donors for Projects (OMDP) was presented, which is a foundation for financing small and medium-sized projects promoted by the Order’s entities around the world. Day two was opened by Grand Hospitaller, HE Joseph D. Blotz KM, represented by Chief of Staff Ivo Graziani, who reviewed the major challenges faced in recent years caused by natural disasters, health, poverty, and conflicts worldwide.

On the third day, the culmination of the conference was a Jubilee event where participants passed in procession through the Holy Door, into the Papal Basilica of St. Mary Major. There, Holy Mass was celebrated by Cardinal Gianfranco Ghirlanda SJ, Patron of the Order of Malta.