A working meeting has been held at the Magistral Palace in Rome by Minister of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants of the Lebanese Republic Youssef Raggi and Grand Chancellor of the Order of Malta, Riccardo Paternò di Montecupo.

The meeting reaffirmed the deep historical and diplomatic ties uniting the Order and Lebanon, with relations established in 1953 and consolidated by over seventy years of cooperation. As a testament to this profound and lasting bond, the significant participation of the First Lady of Lebanon, Nehmat Aoun, in the Order’s recent international pilgrimage to Lourdes was recalled.

At the heart of the talks was the dramatic humanitarian situation in Lebanon following the escalation of the conflict in March 2026. To date, the country counts over 2,800 victims and approximately 1.2 million displaced persons, equivalent to one-fifth of the population. Throughout this crisis, the Order of Malta has worked intensively through diversified activities, driven by the commitment and dedication of its association members, volunteers, and staff.

Minister Raggi expressed intense gratitude for the very valuable work of the Order of Malta: “You have always been present to help, but now your action is truly vital. More than thank you.” He also expressed deep condolences for the loss of Chadi Ammar, a young staff member of the Order of Malta in Lebanon who was killed in an airstrike in the south of the country.

The Grand Chancellor reiterated the Order’s closeness to the Lebanese people and institutions, as recently expressed in a letter sent to Prime Minister Nawaf Salam. “The Order of Malta is particularly attached to Lebanon and the Holy Land,” emphasized the Grand Chancellor, " and will continue its diligent service and support, while also striving to preserve religious, ethnic, and cultural diversity and plurality.”

Minister Raggi appealed for intensified support for the Christian villages in the South, the beating heart of the country’s identity: “Your material and technical support gives strength and faith to the population: it is fundamental to continue this action to safeguard the Lebanese model of coexistence, which will not be possible without a free Christian presence in the country.”

Despite severe access restrictions and the creation of the so-called “Yellow Line” in the south, the humanitarian activities of the Order of Malta in Lebanon continue without pause. Since the beginning of the conflict, the Order has intensified its efforts in the country, guaranteeing assistance in 88 shelters for displaced persons and providing over 15,000 medical services and more than 11,000 pharmaceutical services to the fleeing internal populations. The commitment on the food front is also massive, with the distribution of more than 54,000 hot meals and more than 74,000 cold meals and snacks, in addition to the delivery of 1,400 educational and psychosocial support kits for the youngest. Among the most recent initiatives, the success of the fifth humanitarian convoy, composed of five trucks, which on May 8th managed to cross the Yellow Line to supply food, medicine, and hygiene products to over 10,000 people isolated in border villages such as Rmeich, Ain Ebel, and Debel.

Sixty years of service in the country

The Lebanese Association of the Order of Malta (also known as the Order of Malta in Lebanon) has been engaged for decades in serving the country’s most vulnerable communities, regardless of ethnic or religious affiliation, with the highest quality standards. Through a network of 60 projects and programs, consisting of 12 health centers, 12 mobile medical units, seven agro-humanitarian centers, three mobile community kitchens, two reception centers for people with disabilities, and numerous other programs, the Order of Malta 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, and its mission goes beyond relief to promote long-term resilience and inclusion.

The Order of Malta operates in Lebanon according to a model of interreligious and inter-institutional collaboration, maintaining strong partnerships with the Lebanese armed forces and the UNIFIL (United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon) mission, whose mandate is expected to end at the end of 2026.