Braga, 14th-16th May 2024 

During the 18th Plenary Assembly of the PAM (Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean) an important part of the work was dedicated to the recognition of humanitarian or political actions within the 31 member countries of the PAM.

The most important prizes were awarded to H.E. the First Lady of Turkey, Emine Erdogan, the President of the Algerian Republic H.E. Abdelmadjid Tebboune, the President of Albania H.E. Bajram Begaj and the Holy Family Hospital – managed by the Sovereign Order of Malta – in Bethlehem.

Ambassador Alberto di Luca, in his capacity as Permanent Representative of the Order to the PAM, has got the prize on behalf of the Grand Chancellor of the Order of Malta, H.E. Riccardo Paternò di Montecupo.

In his address to the Assembly gathered in Braga (Portugal), Ambassador di Luca thanked the President Hon. Pedro Roque and the Secretary General of the PAM Ambassador Sergio Piazzi, on behalf of H.E. the Grand Chancellor and of the Hospital of the Holy Family of Bethlehem, for the prestigious Award, adding that “merit must be recognized to all those who are on the front line to defend the right to health in an area of the World so further and seriously affected by the conflict scenarios of recent months”.

The most significant data on the Order of Malta’s presence in the World were summarized, and the apolitical nature of the people who are helped was strongly emphasized, and absolutely independent of religious conditions. “We are proudly a Catholic religious Order,” said Ambassador di Luca, “but when a woman asks for help for herself or her child, we intervene regardless of whether she is Muslim, Jewish, Christian or of any other religion!”

The Ambassador concluded, highlighting the valuable support provided not only to the Hospital, but also in the areas of proximity by the health professionals of the Order.

Finally, the President of the PAM, on behalf of our Ambassador to Palestine H.E. Michele Bowe, was awarded the medal – the same one already awarded to the Holy Father – on the occasion of the birth of the 100,000th child in the Bethlehem Hospital.

It was also an excellent opportunity for Ambassador di Luca, who has just been appointed Ambassador to Monaco, to meet with Hon. Marie-Noëlle Gibelli, Head of Mission of the National Council of the Principality of Monaco to the PAM.