ACTIVITY REPORT 2010 Contents 4 Message from 14 Spirituality 24 the Grand Master in action Focus 26 Lebanon In every clinic, every day, Christians and Muslims wait, shoulder to shoulder 50 Activities in Europe 68 Africa On the continent of Africa the Order works in 38 countries 72 Middle East Care continues apace Worldwide medical, 46 health and social 78 welfare activities Government Message from the Grand Master ..........4 Africa .....................................................32 Government ........................................78 • Kenya ..............................................32 The government of the Order ...............80 Message from the Grand Chancellor • Congo .............................................34 and the Grand Hospitaller ......................5 • Cameroon .......................................36 Conferences ..........................................82 Momentous events Asia .......................................................38 Official Visits of Grand Master Fra’ for the Order 2008-2009 .......................6 • Burma/Myanmar ............................38 Andrew Bertie .......................................84 The passing of Grand Master Europe ..................................................42 Official Visits of Grand Master Fra’ Fra’ Andrew Bertie .................................8 • Lampedusa ....................................42 Matthew Festing ...................................86 • Belgium ..........................................44 Grand Master Fra’ Matthew Festing ....10 Diplomacy .............................................90 Worldwide medical, health and social Cardinal Pio Laghi ................................12 welfare activities .................................46 Cooperation Agreements .....................92 Archbishop Paolo Sardi ........................13 Order’s Projects are underway Postal Agreements ...............................95 in 120 countries ....................................48 Spirituality in action ............................14 Flag and Emblems ...............................96 Europe ..................................................50 A thousand years of faith .....................16 The Grand Magistry Library and Americas ...............................................61 Archives ................................................98 Pilgrimage ............................................17 Africa .....................................................68 960 years of history ............................100 Lourdes .................................................18 Middle East ...........................................72 Addresses ...........................................102 Focus ...................................................24 Asia - Pacific .........................................73 Middle East ...........................................26 • Lebanon ..........................................26 Malteser International .........................76 Message from the Grand Master As his successor, I am resolved to continue along the same path, and to strengthen vocations to a dedicated religious life within the Order, whilst applauding and encouraging our charitable works around the globe. Over recent months we have organised a number of international conferences, examining how the range of humanitarian and care activities of the Order will proceed in the twenty-first century. We are also verifying that its spiritual life is constantly renewed through its pilgrimages with the sick – especially the May journey to Lourdes, but in all the pilgrimages our members make, some of which are shown in this Report. I bring to your attention a selection of projects we undertake in the five continents, particularly those in the ‘focus’ section. They give a very human s we face a world where economic perspective to some of the things we do: in the distress is a fact of life, the plight Lebanon, the Order runs ten health care centres; of those who suffer – the poor, the in Cameroon, Congo and Kenya, through our relief sick, the homeless, internally service, Malteser International, we help AIDS displaced persons, refugees, the victims, those suffering from tubercolosis, A disabled, the elderly – becomes the internally displaced, and the very poor. ever more acute. We, members of a religious lay In Burma/Myanmar our relief service was one of Order with a 900-year old tradition of caring for the the few outside help providers permitted by the poor and the sick, are crucially aware of the need government after Cyclone Nargis hit the country. to look to our fellow man. This has always been Recently, we went to the aid of victims of the our mission, and it remains our mission and our earthquake in Sumatra and typhoon Ketsana in focus today. Vietnam. From our founding in Jerusalem, the Order has In Europe, the Italian Association’s medical concentrated on helping those who suffer. And in emergency corps work with the country’s Coast the twenty-first century, every hour of every day in Guard to aid the hundreds of immigrants who pack over 120 countries, Order members, staff and into tiny boats from North Africa to Lampedusa, volunteers work in our hospitals, hospices, day risking life and limb in search of a better future. care centres and schools. It is a work that never We continue to support the local population of ends, and a vocation that we are proud to carry out. another serious earthquake, in the Abruzzo area There have been great changes in the world of Italy and, most recently, the victims of the 2010 situation and in that of the Order of Malta. earthquakes in Haiti and in Chile. Our beloved Grand Master Fra’ Andrew Bertie died This publication also includes sections on the in February 2008, leaving us to mourn his passing activities of the Order’s government and the but also to celebrate his legacy, in the great devel - special activities in our Library and Archives in the opments he oversaw in the Order during his twenty Grand Magistry. I hope you will find a better under - years at its helm. We have devoted a section of this standing of the Order of Malta and its life and publication to his memory and his works. works around the world through these pages. Fra’ Matthew Festing 79th Grand Master of the Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of St. John of Jerusalem of Rhodes and of Malta 4 SOVEREIGN MILITARY HOSPITALLER ORDER OF ST. JOHN OF JERUSALEM OF RHODES AND OF MALTA Message from the Grand Chancellor and the Grand Hospitaller he Order is active in 120 countries, in Pakistan and Peru, by the devastating Cyclone where its 59 organisations – Nagis which caused the worst natural disaster Priories, National Associations and in the recorded history of Myanmar, by the earth - other Order organisations, initiate quake in Abruzzo, Italy, and that in Haiti, whose and sustain projects designed to devastation is still being assessed. T deliver emergency aid, healthcare, While such responses to immediate needs remain training and education for those in greatest need, an essential and highly visible part of the Order’s remaining true to its 900-year tradition of providing work, they are supplemented by other much care with compassion. longer-term activities which aim to eradicate, One abiding advantage provided by the Order’s or at least ameliorate, the impact of conditions sovereign status is the availability of open commu - such as HIV/AIDS, TB and malaria which continue nication channels between governments and our to take such a toll of human lives. network of ambassadors. Contacts maintained In many ways, it is through its continuing health - in this way frequently enable the Order to react care initiatives in countries and among communi - rapidly to emerging needs, and to speed the ties in every corner of the world that the Order is delivery of aid. In addition to full bilateral relation - able to make the longest-lasting contribution to ships with 104 countries, the Order maintains the wellbeing of humankind. official relations at Ambassador level with the This document contains many examples of this European Commission and has Permanent work, as well as special sections devoted to our Observer status at the United Nations and health and education programmes in Lebanon, strong relationships with many international and our work among Muslim people. Each, in its organisations. separate way, is a practical expression of the This Activity Report contains a brief – and by no Order’s unquestioning commitment to help the means exhaustive – overview of the work carried sick and the disadvantaged whoever and wherever out over the past two years by the many thousands they may be. of volunteers, members and staff of the Order. Sustainability is another important thread running It also provides a snapshot of the emergency through the Order’s provision not only of humani - aid which continues to be provided by Malteser tarian aid – where it is evidenced through initia - International, the Order’s worldwide organisation tives to support self-sufficient livelihoods among for emergency relief and rehabilitation. those impacted by poverty or natural disasters – Much of this work continues to redress the effects but also of healthcare projects. Education of local of earlier disasters, such as the South Asian communities in how to recognise the symptoms of tsunami of 2004, and to mitigate the impact of disease, and to protect themselves against it, long-running civil strife in some of the world’s forms an integral part of many such schemes. poorest countries. In addition,