On 29 June 2026, the Embassy of the Sovereign Order of Malta to the Republic of Albania hosted its annual reception at the Palace of Brigades in Tirana, on the occasion of the Solemnity of Saint John the Baptist, Patron Saint of the Order.

The reception brought together representatives of the Albanian Government and Parliament, the diplomatic corps, international organisations, religious leaders, members of civil society, and representatives of Albania’s academic and healthcare communities.

This year’s event carried particular significance as it followed the official visit to Albania in March 2026 of His Most Eminent Highness Fra’ John T. Dunlap, Prince and Grand Master of the Sovereign Order of Malta, accompanied by the Grand Chancellor, H.E. Riccardo Paternò di Montecupo, and the Grand Hospitaller, H.E. Josef Blotz. The evening therefore provided an opportunity to reaffirm the excellent relations between the Sovereign Order of Malta and the Republic of Albania and to build on the important progress achieved during that historic visit.

Among the distinguished guests were His Eminence Cardinal François-Xavier Bustillo, O.F.M. Conv.; H.E. Fra’ Nicolò Custoza de’ Cattani, Grand Prior of Naples and Sicily; H.E. Archbishop Mirosław Adamczyk, Apostolic Nuncio to Albania; H.E. Most Rev. Arjan Dodaj, Metropolitan Archbishop of Tirana-Durrës and Conventual Chaplain ad honorem of the Sovereign Order of Malta; H.R.H. Prince Leka of Albania; ambassadors accredited to Albania; representatives of the European Union, the United Nations and the OSCE; senior Albanian officials; and leaders of the country’s Catholic, Muslim, Orthodox, Evangelical and Bektashi communities.

In his address, Ambassador Stefano Palumbo reflected on the remarkable progress achieved over the past year in relations between the Sovereign Order of Malta and Albania. He recalled the official visit of the Prince and Grand Master and highlighted the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding with the Albanian Ministry of Defence in the fields of civil protection and military medicine during the visit of the Grand Hospitaller. He also underlined the Embassy’s continued commitment to promoting the humanitarian, diplomatic and spiritual mission of the Order through close cooperation with Albanian institutions.

The evening marked another important step in the continued development of relations between the Sovereign Order of Malta and the Republic of Albania, building on the achievements of recent months and reaffirming the shared commitment to humanitarian action, dialogue and cooperation.