The day after his election as head of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, the 81st Grand Master Fra’ John Dunlap received numerous messages of congratulation and good wishes from heads of state of European and non-European countries, as well as the embassies of the countries accredited to the Order of Malta.

The Albanian President, H.E. Bajram Begaj, sent a message to congratulate the new Grand Master.

The election of Fra’ John Dunlap on May 3, “opens a new phase in the life of the Order, which under its leadership can engage with even greater energy in its admirable work supporting the sick and the most vulnerable, especially in those areas of the world where the very dignity of human beings appears threatened,” reads the message sent by the President of the Italian Republic Sergio Mattarella, in which particular appreciation is expressed for the Order of Malta’s “operational promptness in response to crises and emergencies.”

Greetings came also from Spain, with King Felipe expressing the hope that the Order of Malta will be able to continue its “mission of solidarity for the neediest”. In his message, the Austrian President, Alexander van der Bellen, stresses the “admirable solicitude” with which Fra’ John Dunlap accompanied the “reorganization of the Order”, stating that “the recognition of international sovereignty is of great significance for carrying out the Order’s mission especially in crisis areas.” The German President, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, wished “divine blessing for this important position already held with a sure hand as Lieutenant of the Grand Master in a decisive period for the Order”.

The Order of Malta’s important role “in helping thousands of Ukrainian refugees fleeing the war” is highlighted in the telegram the President of the Slovak Republic, Zuzana Caputovà addressed to the Grand Master. The President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, recalls that “the robust partnership with the Order of Malta is celebrating its 30th anniversary”. Messages also came from the President of the Czech Republic, Petr Pavel, of the Republic of Croatia, Zoran Milanovic, the Bulgarian President, Rumen Radev, the Estonian President, Alar Kavis, and Katerina Sakellaropoulou, President of the Hellenic Republic, as well as from several other European, African and South American countries, and from George Furey, the speaker of the Senate of Canada, birthplace of the Grand Master.

Not only messages from Heads of State and Government but also from civil and religious authorities, institutions, members of the Order of Malta and citizens worldwide who wanted to congratulate the new Grand Master both by letter and on social media