Rome, 10 April 2026 – Riccardo Paternò di Montecupo, the Grand Chancellor of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, also on behalf of the Grand Master Fra’ John T. Dunlap, has sent an official letter to Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam to express his deep sympathy and support for the institutions and people of Lebanon during this tragic and challenging period, which has had extremely serious humanitarian consequences.

“The Lebanese people, who have always been very dear to the Order of Malta, deserve peace, stability, security and prosperity after such extensive and prolonged suffering and deprivation”, Paternò writes.

Present in Lebanon since 1953, the Order of Malta operates through its National Association, which is currently addressing the emergency and ensuring the continuity of long-term projects while scaling up extraordinary interventions to assist the displaced.

In recent weeks, the humanitarian effort has made it possible to provide essential support in the form of healthcare services (5,000), pharmaceuticals (approximately 4,000), meals (approximately 23,000), educational and recreational kits (approximately 800) and other forms of aid.

“The Order of Malta is committed to mobilising international support for Lebanon through its entities worldwide and other partners of the Order”, concluded the Grand Chancellor. “Lebanon can count on our unwavering commitment, our solidarity, and our friendship.”

The Order of Malta calls for a swift ceasefire, partly to facilitate access for humanitarian aid and the restoration of essential social services.

Sixty years of service in the country

The Lebanese Association of the Knights of Malta (also known as Order of Malta Lebanon) has been committed for decades to serving the most vulnerable communities across the country, regardless of origin or religion, with the highest quality standards. Through a network of 60 projects and programs composed of 12 community healthcare centers, 12 mobile medical units, 7 agro-humanitarian centers, 3 mobile community kitchens, 2 hosting centers for the differently abled, and several other programs, the Order in Lebanon provides essential medical, social, and agricultural support to those in need. Apolitical, neutral and impartial, it is rooted in the principles of dignity, solidarity, and service, its mission extends beyond relief to fostering long-term resilience and inclusion.

The Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of St. John of Jerusalem, of Rhodes and of Malta, born in Jerusalem in the second half of the 11th century, is a primary subject of international law and Catholic and lay religious order. Its mission is to bear witness to the faith and assist the poor and sick. Today the Order of Malta is mainly active in health and social care and humanitarian aid, operating in over 130 countries. Together with its 13,500 members, it has 100,000 volunteers supported by some 60,000 doctors, nurses and paramedics. The Order manages hospitals, healthcare clinics, out-patient units, institutes for the elderly and disabled, palliative care centres as well as projects for health and social care and psychological assistance for migrants and refugees. Malteser International, the Order of Malta’s international relief agency, provides emergency aid in war zones and during natural disasters. The Order is currently engaged in over 70 regions in Ukraine and bordering countries. In the Middle East it assists those affected by the conflicts, particularly in Lebanon and Gaza (with the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem), and manages the only hospital with a neonatal intensive care unit in Bethlehem.  The Order of Malta’s Italian Relief Corps participates in migrant rescue operations in the Mediterranean Sea.  The Order of Malta is neutral, impartial and apolitical. It has bilateral diplomatic relations with 115 States, official relations with another 4 States, and relations at ambassadorial level with the European Union and African Union. It is a Permanent Observer to the United Nations and is represented in the main international organizations. Since 1834, the seat of the Order of Malta’s government has been in Rome. The 81st Grand Master is Fra’ John T. Dunlap.