Pope Benedict XVI met with around 4,000 Knights and Dames, members and volunteers of the Order of Malta, in a special ceremony marking the 900th anniversary of the establishment of the organization as a Sovereign Military Order under Papal protection.
The ceremony was held at Vatican on Saturday, February 9, 2013, and its highest solemnity was the Eucharistic celebration at Saint Peter’s Basilica.In his address, Pope Benedict tied the anniversary of the Order of Malta to the Year of Faith, saying: “The Church is called to renew the joy and the commitment of believing in Jesus Christ, the one Savior of the word.” Then He went on praising the Order of Malta for its nine centuries’ history of faithfulness to the Church: “Continue to walk along this path, bearing concrete witness to the transforming power of faith.”
Even some members of Malteser Albania took part in this special event: the President of Malteser Albania, Mgrs. Lucian Avgustini, the Director Maranaj Marku and two other staff members.
A Short history about the knights of the Sovereign of Order of Malta
The Order of St. John was founded by St. Gerard as a monastic community in 1048. The Order became well-known by founding a hospital for pilgrims to the Holy Land. On 15 February 1113, Pope Paschal II issued the Bull Pie Postulatio Voluntatis, by which he placed the newly created “hospitaller fraternity” of Jerusalem under the protection of the Holy See and gave it sovereign status, constituting it as an Order in church law, with the faculty freely to elect its superiors without interference from other lay or religious authorities.
The Knights, the members of the Order, were in fact monks bound by the three monastic vows of Obedience, Chastity and Poverty. They were also obliged to protect the sick and the pilgrims as well as to defend the territories conquered by the crusaders, thus adding a military character to their hospitaller one: the defense of Christian Faith.
When Christian dominance in the Holy Land fell in 1291, the Order temporarily settled in Cyprus, then on the island of Rhodes, and finally on the island of Malta which they had to leave being banned by Napoleon. The Order temporarily resided in Messina, Catania and Ferrara, and then in 1834 they settled definitely in Rome.
The original hospitaller mission became once again the main activity of the Order, growing ever stronger during the last century, most especially because of the contribution of the activities carried out by the Grand Priories and National Associations in many countries around the world where the Order is present. Today the Order carries out these activities in over 120 countries.
The Order of Malta remains true to its inspiring principles, summarized in the motto “Tuitio Fidei et Obsequium Pauperum”, defense of the Faith and assistance to the poor and the suffering, which become reality through the voluntary work carried out by Dames and Knights in humanitarian assistance and medical and social activities.
At present, the Order of Malta is active in over 120 countries, supported by the diplomatic relations it currently has with 104 nations. The Order runs hospitals, medical centers, day hospitals, nursing homes for the elderly and the disabled and special centers for the terminally ill.
In many countries the Order’s volunteer corps provide first aid, social services, emergency and humanitarian interventions.
The order is sovereign. It prints its own stamps, coins, license plates and passports, but it has no territory. Today, it has become an international humanitarian organization with nearly 100,000 doctors, nurses and volunteers worldwide.
Based in Rome, the order is now focusing on its home continent, opening shelters and soup kitchens in Europe, where the number of jobless and homeless is growing in the worst recession since World War II.
The order has some 13,500 members- assisted by 80,000 permanent volunteers and 25,000 medical staff – engaged in humanitarian and medical relief work in more than 120 countries around the world.
The Knights, the members of the Order, were in fact monks bound by the three monastic vows of Obedience, Chastity and Poverty. They were also obliged to protect the sick and the pilgrims as well as to defend the territories conquered by the crusaders, thus adding a military character to their hospitaller one: the defense of Christian Faith.
When Christian dominance in the Holy Land fell in 1291, the Order temporarily settled in Cyprus, then on the island of Rhodes, and finally on the island of Malta which they had to leave being banned by Napoleon. The Order temporarily resided in Messina, Catania and Ferrara, and then in 1834 they settled definitely in Rome.
The original hospitaller mission became once again the main activity of the Order, growing ever stronger during the last century, most especially because of the contribution of the activities carried out by the Grand Priories and National Associations in many countries around the world where the Order is present. Today the Order carries out these activities in over 120 countries.
The Order of Malta remains true to its inspiring principles, summarized in the motto “Tuitio Fidei et Obsequium Pauperum”, defense of the Faith and assistance to the poor and the suffering, which become reality through the voluntary work carried out by Dames and Knights in humanitarian assistance and medical and social activities.
At present, the Order of Malta is active in over 120 countries, supported by the diplomatic relations it currently has with 104 nations. The Order runs hospitals, medical centers, day hospitals, nursing homes for the elderly and the disabled and special centers for the terminally ill.
In many countries the Order’s volunteer corps provide first aid, social services, emergency and humanitarian interventions.
The order is sovereign. It prints its own stamps, coins, license plates and passports, but it has no territory. Today, it has become an international humanitarian organization with nearly 100,000 doctors, nurses and volunteers worldwide.
Based in Rome, the order is now focusing on its home continent, opening shelters and soup kitchens in Europe, where the number of jobless and homeless is growing in the worst recession since World War II.
The order has some 13,500 members- assisted by 80,000 permanent volunteers and 25,000 medical staff – engaged in humanitarian and medical relief work in more than 120 countries around the world.
Malteser in Albania:
The Sovereign Order of Malta would expand its presence even in Albania, in establishing Malteser Ndihmon në Shqipëri in 1995 with the support of “Malteser Hilfsdienst” Germany. Its Headquarter is in Shkodra and its activity is focused in medical, social and civil protection fields.
Malteser Albania has over 120 volunteers and youth who are trained by the organization and are able to take responsibilities in the fields where the organization operates. They are the vital body of Malteser Albania and success is dedicated to them.
As part of Order of Malta’s worldwide relief service, Malteser Albania is always committed based on Christian values and the humanitarian principles to help people in need.
The organization supports people throughout Albania, through sustainable service, medical and social programs and its relief efforts.
Malteser Albania has over 120 volunteers and youth who are trained by the organization and are able to take responsibilities in the fields where the organization operates. They are the vital body of Malteser Albania and success is dedicated to them.
As part of Order of Malta’s worldwide relief service, Malteser Albania is always committed based on Christian values and the humanitarian principles to help people in need.
The organization supports people throughout Albania, through sustainable service, medical and social programs and its relief efforts.