30th International Hospitaller Conference kicks off in Krakow
The Hospitaller, Dr. Kevin F. Dingli is attending the XXX International Hospitallers’ Conference of the Order of Malta which is being held between 15 – 17 March 2024 in Krakow, Poland.
“The purpose of this International Hospitaller Meeting is clear: to strengthen the Order’s hospitaller function to better serve our Lords: the poor and the sick around the world” said the Grand Master, Fra’ John Dunlap, in opening the conference. He also recalled Our Lord’s words “Be not afraid”.
The conference was also addressed for the first time by the Order of Malta’s new prelate, Mgr. Luis Manuel Cuña Ramos, who spoke about the need to be touched by Christ before one could touch Christ in Our Lords the Sick.
As was to be expected, the main themes of the conference were the situations in Ukraine and Gaza.
In the words of the Grand Hospitaller Fra’ Alessandro de Franciscis : “The challenge today is the war spreading to all countries”, recalling Pope Francis’ words about the third world war being fought in bits and pieces. “We must concentrate on the butchery taking place in the Holy Land and in Ukraine” he said.
“The primacy of charity, the primacy of love: this is the only possible answer to the banality of evil” continued the Grand Hospitaller – quoting the 1963 book by philosopher Hannah Arendt – urging his colleagues to “roll up their sleeves and work with competence to do better and better to serve the poor and the sick”, following the unwavering motto of the Order – serving the poor, witnessing the faith.
In a departure from the set agenda, a letter was presented to the Grand Master by Father Davide Meli, Chancellor of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, on behalf of Latin Catholic Patriarch of Jerusalem, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, praising the work of the Order of Malta and calling for a coordinated action to provide aid to the Gaza population.
A volunteer from the Ukrainian Relief Service in Mariupol also took the floor and gave a heartfelt account of her experience as a rescuer, recalling her sense of helplessness in the wake of starving and dying people. The lives of seven volunteers of the Order of Malta killed in Ukraine were then honoured in a somber moment with a prayer for peace.
Safeguarding policies for volunteers, as well members and employees, formed another major theme. The aim is to strengthen codes of conducts and guidelines to protect the most vulnerable individuals, starting from minors.
In keeping with the practice adopted in recent hospitallers’ conferences, the participants then broke up into a number of workshops, dealing with spirituality in the works of the order; international, national and regional camps; and collaboration and coordination between different organisational units in crisis situations.
The 31st Hospitaller’s Conference will take place in Vienna in 2025.
KFD
