The President on a State Visit to the Grand Master in Rome

The President on a State Visit to the Grand Master in Rome

The President of Malta this morning made a State Visit to the Sovereign Military Order of St John of Jerusalem, of Rhodes and of Malta at its world headquarters in Rome as "witness to the lasting bond that ties the names of the State and the Order, a living testimony of a shared culture and belief."

Prof. Guido de Marco's State Visit to HMEH Fra Andrew Bertie, Prince and Grand Master of the SMOM, comes at the close of the Order's 900^th anniversary celebrations. Speaking after being bestowed with the Collar of the Order Pro Merito Melitense, the President highlighted how both Malta and the SMOM have evolved over the centuries and acquired identities of their own through which they offer a significant contribution on a regional level and beyond.

"Conscious of our values, we reach out beyond borders both in a tangible material manner and on an intellectual level, thus priding ourselves with being literally larger than our geography … Today, Malta is no longer vying for the role of a frontier fortress but is now a bridge of dialogue and understanding for the whole of the Mediterranean region, a veritable crossroad of civilisations."

The President said that all people of good will share a mission in this new millennium – re-evaluating differences with neighbouring and riparian States and cultures while looking to the future with a renewed sense of hope in the knowledge that greater spiritual and material prosperity will achieve an unprecedented degree of peace and stability.

"The crusade today is against material and spiritual poverty, against the uniformity of thought and the indifference of conscience."

The President stated the mission of solidarity with those in need can and must be given full support on both a national and international level: "It is my strong belief that it is possible to sustain the effort of those many who dedicate themselves to others by providing them with the facilities of the structure of a national organisation dedicated purposely to channelling these efforts in a co-ordinated manner. On an international level, the example of the Sovereign Order's efforts to assist the less fortunate in a consistent and substantial manner throughout the world remains a leading light. Malta looks forward to further co-operation with the Order in this field as in others."

In his speech, the Grand Master made reference to the historical agreement between the Order and Malta which extended the lease of Fort St Angelo to 99 years with the privilege of extra-territoriality: "The agreement, I feel, is a symbol of the strength of our relationship and our desire to contribute together to building a better world in which the respect of peace and the defence of the rights of man are given absolute priority."

The President's State Visit to the SMOM coupled with this agreement were defined by Fra Andrew Bertie as "opening a new chapter in our reciprocal relations."

The Jubilee Year will see millions of pilgrims flocking to Rome, sending a strong message of peace and brotherhood to the people and for the defence of the faith "threatened, now, perhaps more than ever before."

"The Order knows well that in this part of its mission it can count on having at its side as an ally the Republic of Malta, which has already contributed so much to this cause and is a guide and example by its character which has ever marked its actions," the Grand Master stated.

Fra Andrew Bertie expressed his hope that relations between Malta and Order will be strengthened "by uniting our efforts and perhaps making use of the ever-increasing diplomatic relationships which we maintain with so many countries of the world."

Prof. de Marco was accompanied by Mrs de Marco, the Minister of Foreign Affairs Joe Borg, the Ambassador of Malta to the SMOM Chev. Jimmy Farrugia and the Secretary to the Cabinet Mr Alfred Fiorini Lowell.

The Grand Master's delegation included the Count Don Carlo Marullo di Condojanni, Prince of Casalnuovo and Grand Chancellor of the Order, Dr Francesco Guariglia, secretary general for International Affairs of the Order and the Ambassador of the Order to Malta Prince Sforza Mariscotto Ruspoli.

The President returns to Malta on Monday 17^th January.

16.01.2000