Monaco, 23rd April 2025
Grand Master Fra’ John T. Dunlap was on an official visit to Monaco, where he received the sad news of the passing of the Holy Father. On Monday 21 and Tuesday 22 April, he met with Prince Albert II.
At the core of the dialogue with Monégasque authorities was the sharing of an international vision based on multilateral cooperation, humanitarian diplomacy, and the protection of the most vulnerable, particularly through a joint commitment to international humanitarian law and triangular cooperation in Africa and the Middle East.
Both offered a prayer and a heartfelt tribute to Pope Francis, who, as Grand Master Fra’ John Dunlap recalled, “with his witness of faith, his dedication to the least fortunate, and his tireless call for mercy and peace, has profoundly marked our time and will continue to illuminate the path of the Church.”
The visit coincides with the 15th anniversary of the elevation of diplomatic relations between the Order and the Principality to the rank of Embassy. “The presence of the Order in Monaco, with an Embassy and a National Association, is not only a confirmation of this long-standing friendship but also a tangible sign that the Order finds in the Principality an ideal partner, driven by the same values,” stated the Grand Master.
Several members of the Grimaldi family have been Knights of the Order of Malta: Prince Albert II himself has been a Knight since 1989, while Princess Charlène, who was presented with the insignia of Dame of Grand Cross of Honour and Devotion yesterday, will receive her investiture in a forthcoming solemn ceremony in Rome.
The meeting highlighted the humanitarian collaboration between the Principality of Monaco and the Order, which has materialized over thirteen years of support for healthcare projects in Senegal and Lebanon. The Grand Master expressed hope that this collaboration would continue, also in response to the severe humanitarian crises and ongoing conflicts in various parts of the world: “In line with Christian values of solidarity, social justice, and respect for human dignity, Monaco and the Order of Malta remain faithful to their mission of assisting those in need and supporting any initiative that can lead to a just and lasting peace,” affirmed Fra’ John Dunlap.
The Grand Master also met with the Archbishop of Monaco, Mgr. Dominique-Marie David, and visited the Cardio-thoracic Centre on Monday. Established thanks to the support of Prince Rainier III and Monégasque authorities, the centre boasts a modern facility serving patients and an internationally renowned medical team, a reference in cardiovascular medicine. In collaboration with the Centre, the Monégasque Association of the Order of Malta has supported surgical interventions for children with heart conditions in developing countries since 2011.
On the occasion of the official visit, the Grand Chancellor of the Order of Malta, Riccardo Paternò di Montecupo, met with Isabelle Rosabrunetto, Director General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of the Principality, expressing appreciation for the excellent collaboration and funding of the Order’s projects, including the hospital in Dakar, Senegal, and the Order of Malta’s Association in Lebanon. In his presence, a cooperation agreement was signed between the Saint Camille Hospital in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, the Monégasque Association of the Order of Malta, the Government of the Principality of Monaco, the Burkina Faso Red Cross, and the Monégasque Red Cross, for the launch of a project dedicated to hip prosthesis implantation for economically vulnerable patients affected by femoral necrosis due to sickle cell anemia in Burkina Faso.
PHOTO CREDITS: Eric Mathon / Palais princier de Monaco
