On behalf of the people of Lithuania and First Lady Diana, President Gitanas Nausėda extended sincere congratulations to Grand Commander Fra’ Ruy Gonçalo do Valle Peixoto de Villas Boas, Lieutenant ad interim of the Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of Saint John of Jerusalem, of Rhodes and of Malta, on the Feast of St. John the Baptist.

“On this day, my thoughts are with you and the large community of the Order of Malta – active all around the world still gripped by the pandemic. I watch with admiration as the Order’s volunteers in Lithuania contribute every day to overcoming the COVID crisis and strengthening the spiritual resilience of the most vulnerable – both big and small – members of society”, said the President in the message of congratulations.

According to the President, humanitarian work, hospital assistance, a bowl of hot soup or a simple heart to heart conversation with a lonely person elevate the Order and its activities to the heights that we speak so much about – but often lack the time or effort to deliver. The President emphasized that he saw the Order’s mission as a priceless asset of humanity.

The President wished for members of the Order of Malta to have the strength and inspiration to continue their important mission and all the friends and volunteers of the Order continued perseverance, strength and health in performing their noble, greatly valued and much needed mission of assistance.