{"id":168,"date":"2021-01-21T09:22:44","date_gmt":"2021-01-21T07:22:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lithuaniaembassy.smom.rc.77test.co.uk\/news\/speech-of-lieutenant-of-the-grand-master-h-e-fra-marco-luzzago-to-the-diplomatic-corps-accredited-to-the-sovereign-order-of-malta\/"},"modified":"2022-06-29T10:13:25","modified_gmt":"2022-06-29T08:13:25","slug":"speech-of-lieutenant-of-the-grand-master-h-e-fra-marco-luzzago-to-the-diplomatic-corps-accredited-to-the-sovereign-order-of-malta","status":"publish","type":"news","link":"https:\/\/lithuaniaembassy.orderofmalta.int\/en\/news\/speech-of-lieutenant-of-the-grand-master-h-e-fra-marco-luzzago-to-the-diplomatic-corps-accredited-to-the-sovereign-order-of-malta\/","title":{"rendered":"Speech of Lieutenant of the Grand Master H.E. Fra\u2019 Marco Luzzago to the Diplomatic Corps accredited to the Sovereign Order of Malta"},"featured_media":169,"menu_order":0,"template":"","class_list":["post-168","news","type-news","status-publish","hentry","news_tags-breaking","news_tags-evidence"],"acf":{"focus_on":"no","breaking":"yes","news_cover":{"id":169,"url":"https:\/\/lithuaniaembassy.orderofmalta.int\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2022\/06\/NICU8057.jpeg"},"news_content":"

Mr.\u00a0<\/span><\/i>Doyen<\/span><\/i>, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,<\/span><\/i>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

T<\/span>he\u00a0<\/span>global pandemic has meant that<\/span>\u00a0the traditional\u00a0<\/span>audience\u00a0<\/span>with the diplomatic corps could not take place<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>this year<\/span>. I\u00a0<\/span>am very sorry about<\/span>\u00a0this as it<\/span>\u00a0would have been the first opportunity to meet you personally<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span>I trust this will happen\u00a0in the near future.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

I thank the Ambassador of Cameroon, His Excellency Antoine\u00a0Zanga\u00a0\u2013 Doyen\u00a0of the Diplomatic Corps \u2013 present today on behalf of the entire\u00a0diplomatic\u00a0corps accredited to the Sovereign Order of Malta.\u00a0Your words,\u00a0Ambassador, are an invitation to face\u00a0with confidence\u00a0the challenges that this new year will present us\u00a0with<\/span><\/a><\/strong><\/u>. I would also like to extend a warm greeting to the new ambassadors of Armenia, Georgia, Latvia, Thailand, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Lebanon, Ecuador and Kazakhstan who presented their credentials during 2020 and to those of Colombia, Nicaragua, Estonia and European Union who\u00a0presented their credentials\u00a0this week.<\/p>\n

I take this opportunity to\u00a0<\/span>remember with emotion<\/span>\u00a0the Prince and Grand Master Fra\u2019 Giacomo Dalla Torre del\u00a0<\/span>Tempio<\/span>\u00a0di\u00a0<\/span>Sanguinetto<\/span>, who\u00a0<\/span>passed away\u00a0<\/span>on 29 April<\/span>\u00a0last<\/span>. During his two years in the high office of Grand Master he\u00a0<\/span>led<\/span>\u00a0the Order with commendable commitment<\/span>\u00a0and<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>foresight<\/span>\u00a0in<\/span>\u00a0a spirit of service and humility. Not only have we lost a man of God, but also a Grand Master who<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0with his simplicity<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0but above all his example, his words and his gestures<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>transmitted<\/span>\u00a0harmony and serenity. In the days before\u00a0<\/span>his death<\/span>, he was\u00a0<\/span>very disappointed<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>he<\/span>\u2019<\/span>d\u00a0<\/span>been\u00a0<\/span>un<\/span>able to complete the reform of the Constitution and the Code<\/span>, something he held dear<\/span>. His legacy will illuminate the path we\u00a0<\/span>will<\/span>\u00a0follow together, in the sign of faith and hope.\u00a0<\/span>I am also grateful to<\/span>\u00a0Fra\u2019 Ruy Gon\u00e7alo do Valle Peixoto de Villas-Boas<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0who\u00a0<\/span>assumed<\/span>\u00a0the leadership of the Order\u00a0<\/span>after<\/span>\u00a0the death of Fra\u2019 Giacomo as\u00a0<\/span>L<\/span>ieutenant<\/span>\u00a0ad<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>interim\u00a0<\/span>during<\/span>\u00a0a very intense and complex period<\/span>.<\/span><\/i>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

We leave behind a decidedly difficult year and face one still full of uncertainties.\u00a0<\/span>T<\/span>he Covid-19 pandemic<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>with<\/span>\u00a0its devastating effects on the health and economy of many nations<\/span>, is added to\u00a0<\/span>global<\/span>\u00a0tensions and conflicts, the growing problems of\u00a0<\/span>famine<\/span>, environment de<\/span>gradation,<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>the\u00a0<\/span>issue<\/span>\u00a0of refugees and those fleeing war, terrorism and hunger<\/span>\u00a0and<\/span>\u00a0the many forms of violence that humiliate and offend human dignity<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span>The\u00a0<\/span>virus<\/span>\u00a0ha<\/span>s<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>hit<\/span>\u00a0the industrialized western world<\/span>\u00a0hard<\/span>, but even\u00a0<\/span>more<\/span>\u00a0the poor countries and the most fragile<\/span>\u00a0\u2013<\/span>\u00a0the poor, the disabled and the elderly, especially the elderly alone. The\u00a0<\/span>numbers of<\/span>\u00a0those who have been infected and those who have died\u00a0<\/span>\u2013<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>in\u00a0<\/span>constant<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>increas<\/span>e<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u2013<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>are shocking<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Covid-19 represents an epochal challenge for\u00a0<\/span>us<\/span>\u00a0all<\/span>. The Holy Father was clear\u00a0<\/span>about<\/span>\u00a0this when he said,\u00a0<\/span>in no uncertain terms<\/span>, that we are all in the same boat and no one<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>is saved<\/span>\u00a0alone<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0The pandemic crisis has further\u00a0<\/span>heightened<\/span>\u00a0social inequalities, accelerating the gap between\u00a0<\/span>rich<\/span>\u00a0and poor in terms of access to medical care and economic resources to cope with the crisis.\u00a0<\/span>We must realise<\/span>\u00a0that<\/span>, when facing<\/span>\u00a0an emergency that<\/span>\u00a0has<\/span>\u00a0no boundaries and makes no distinctions, these inequalities are intolerable<\/span>. A<\/span>\u00a0new social model based on solidarity and respect for the dignity of\u00a0each individual\u00a0is an ethical imperative.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

We must all\u00a0<\/span>make an effort<\/span>\u00a0to strengthen international cooperation based on renewed trust in one another,\u00a0<\/span>in particular\u00a0<\/span>by\u00a0relaunching an efficient and shared multilateral system. Multilateralism is the best guarantee\u00a0<\/span>for<\/span>\u00a0ensuring peace, harmonious economic and social development and\u00a0<\/span>for\u00a0<\/span>protecting even the smallest\u00a0<\/span>nations<\/span>, and w<\/span>e\u00a0have to<\/span>\u00a0adapt<\/span>\u00a0it\u00a0<\/span>to today\u2019s changing times.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

****\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

The pandemic\u00a0<\/span>has not\u00a0<\/span>stopped<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>the Order of Malta\u2019s charitable activity\u00a0<\/span>on which our mission is based.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Our<\/span>\u00a0first concern was to\u00a0<\/span>protect<\/span>\u00a0our projects world<\/span>wide<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0and\u00a0<\/span>first of all<\/span>\u00a0our operators and beneficiaries<\/span>, enabling<\/span>\u00a0us to<\/span>\u00a0continue<\/span>\u00a0our humanitarian\u00a0<\/span>work<\/span>. Many of the social<\/span>\u00a0and\u00a0<\/span>health projects carried out in the 120 countries in which the Order of Malta operates have been expanded and\/or converted into programmes for\u00a0<\/span>Covid<\/span>-19<\/span>\u00a0prevention and treatment. Since the onset of the pandemic last year, the Grand Priories, Associations and our volunteer and rescue corps in\u00a0<\/span>Italy, Germany, France, Austria, Hungary, Ireland<\/span>\u00a0and\u00a0<\/span>in\u00a0<\/span>many other countries have\u00a0<\/span>given their\u00a0<\/span>suppor<\/span>t to<\/span>\u00a0national health systems. Covid<\/span>-19<\/span>\u00a0hospitals and wards were opened and many of the existing hospitals the Order of Malta<\/span>\u00a0manages<\/span>\u00a0were\u00a0<\/span>made\u00a0<\/span>secure<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>and<\/span>\u00a0in some of these\u00a0<\/span>pavilions<\/span>\u00a0were opened for Covid<\/span>-19<\/span>\u00a0patients. Program<\/span>me<\/span>s\u00a0<\/span>for assisting and delivering<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>basic necessities<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>to<\/span>\u00a0people in isolation have been activated, as well as transportation services for patients and psychological support program<\/span>me<\/span>s for\u00a0<\/span>sick people<\/span>\u00a0and<\/span>\u00a0their<\/span>\u00a0relatives. Many associations have managed to continue routine home visits, providing medical assistance to the elderly, very often isolated and forced to live\u00a0<\/span>this<\/span>\u00a0complex<\/span>\u00a0phase\u00a0<\/span>in solitude. For our facilities for the elderly \u2013 I am thinking of the\u00a0<\/span>over<\/span>\u00a070 homes in\u00a0<\/span>England<\/span>,<\/span><\/b>\u00a0for example, and the numerous facilities in\u00a0<\/span>Germany\u00a0<\/span>\u2013\u00a0<\/span>a<\/span>\u00a0particularly delicate<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>task<\/span>\u00a0was<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>stopping<\/span>\u00a0visits of relatives and friends<\/span>\u00a0and<\/span>\u00a0implement<\/span>ing<\/span>\u00a0stringent safety measures to protect the health of residents, whil<\/span>st<\/span>\u00a0ensuring the possibility of human contact through technological means. This involved rethinking daily activities, investing in staff training and introducing new tools.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In many countries in Asia and Africa,\u00a0<\/span>there have been\u00a0<\/span>awareness-raising campaigns and hygiene services and infrastructure for access to running water have been improved. This is the case of many of our projects in\u00a0<\/span>Myanmar, Thailand,<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/b>and\u00a0<\/span>Cambodia<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0where Covid-19 prevention activities, including information campaigns, distribution of hygiene items, points for hand washing and testing, have been added to the<\/span>\u00a0Order\u2019s<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>long-standing programmes\u00a0<\/span>in these countries,\u00a0<\/span>such as<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>those for<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Hansen\u2019s disease<\/span><\/b>\u00a0and other forgotten\u00a0<\/span>illnesses<\/span>. In Africa, in the\u00a0<\/span>Democratic<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/b>Republic of Congo<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0health equipment purchased for the Ebola virus response has been reallocated for Covid-19 patients. In\u00a0<\/span>South Sudan<\/span>, projects\u00a0<\/span>have been set up<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>to encourage prevention.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Many of these programmes have<\/span>\u00a0been implemented<\/span>\u00a0thanks to the work of our diplomatic missions in the countries<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>of\u00a0<\/span>accreditation<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Covid-19\u00a0<\/span>vaccines\u00a0<\/span>represent the real hope of returning to a normal life.\u00a0<\/span>H<\/span>owever, th<\/span>ese<\/span>\u00a0vaccines\u00a0<\/span>must be\u00a0<\/span>promptly<\/span>\u00a0distributed\u00a0<\/span>worldwide\u00a0<\/span>without\u00a0<\/span>global economic<\/span>\u00a0competition in the spirit of Pope Francis<\/span>\u2019<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>heartfelt appeal in his latest<\/span>\u00a0Encyclical Letter\u00a0<\/span>Fratelli Tutti<\/span><\/i>\u00a0that<\/span>\u00a0\u201c<\/span>no one is excluded<\/span>\u201c. As Grand Chancellor Albrecht\u00a0Boeselager\u00a0reiterated in his speech at the United Nations General Assembly in September<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0\u201c<\/span>t<\/span>he Order of Malta\u00a0<\/span>shares<\/span>\u00a0and strongly<\/span>\u00a0supports the words of Pope Francis and the appeal launched last March by German President Steinmeier and four other\u00a0<\/span>h<\/span>eads of\u00a0<\/span>s<\/span>tate. We believe that a fair, wide and rapid distribution of the vaccine in the world is not only ethical, but essential from the scientific point of view to contain the possible new waves of the pandemic\u201d.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

On the<\/span>\u00a0diplomatic and scientific\u00a0<\/span>front<\/span>, the Order of Malta has helped to promote better knowledge of the virus<\/span>\u00a0and of<\/span>\u00a0containment measures and therapies. The\u00a0<\/span>\u201cDoctor to Doctor\u201d<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/b>project<\/span>, a virtual platform we created in March, consists of a network of experts in epidemiology and virology<\/span>\u00a0linked to the Order<\/span>. The<\/span>se experts<\/span>\u00a0regularly meet\u00a0<\/span>online\u00a0<\/span>doctors and political and health authorities in<\/span>\u00a0the<\/span>\u00a0Middle East, Africa, Central and South America to discuss best practices and the latest advances in medical research. So far, we have held\u00a0<\/span>over<\/span>\u00a0a dozen meetings, the last of which has been with Gaza, where the situation is dramatic: one third of the population is currently positive\u00a0<\/span>and the health infrastructure is completely inadequate. These meetings are regularly attended by\u00a0<\/span>some of\u00a0<\/span>our ambassadors from the countries in which we are present, such as Palestine, Jordan and Lebanon.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>I am extremely grateful to<\/span>\u00a0them, as well as to the many doctors and scientists who devote time and resources to the initiative.\u00a0<\/span>Faced with this global health threat, a<\/span>s our Grand Hospitaller, Dominique de La Rochefoucauld-Montbel, recently recalled in his speech at the Special Session of the United Nations General Assembly, \u201c<\/span>i<\/span>nternational and intergovernmental organisations, in tandem with civil society, have a duty to foster dialogue and to promote the exchange of information on the results achieved\u201d.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The<\/span>\u00a0pandemic has increased the<\/span>\u00a0number of people in the world suffering from hunger precisely because\u00a0<\/span>it\u00a0<\/span>has\u00a0<\/span>struck a hard blow to<\/span>\u00a0the informal economy of many emerging countries hard and has brought those countries liv<\/span>ing<\/span>\u00a0on tourism<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>to their knees<\/span>. The pandemic has penalized all countries<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0but\u00a0<\/span>especially<\/span>\u00a0those that cannot resort to debt to support employment and the economy.\u00a0It is clear that our\u00a0humanitarian action is more necessary than ever.\u00a0<\/span>To<\/span>\u00a0stem this phenomenon,<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>last year\u00a0<\/span>the Order of Malta appointed a\u00a0<\/span>Special Envoy for new forms of exclusion<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span>to<\/span>\u00a0analys<\/span>e how the<\/span>se<\/span>\u00a0can cause<\/span>\u00a0disability, marginalisation, loneliness and rare diseases.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Despite the major limitations imposed by the pandemic, our national structures have\u00a0<\/span>managed to continue<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>distributi<\/span>n<\/span>g<\/span>\u00a0meals to deprived persons, providing home deliveries of food and\u00a0<\/span>basic necessities<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>I am thinking for example of the \u201cMeals on\u00a0<\/span>W<\/span>heels\u201d projects in\u00a0<\/span>Lithuania\u00a0<\/span>and<\/span>\u00a0Hungary<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Th<\/span>ere are<\/span>\u00a0also<\/span>\u00a0p<\/span>rogrammes for the distribution of non-perishable food products<\/span>\u00a0overseas, to<\/span>\u00a0marginalised neighbo<\/span>u<\/span>rhoods\u00a0<\/span>of cities in the\u00a0<\/span>Dominican Republic<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>and<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>degraded<\/span>\u00a0villages in\u00a0<\/span>Peru, Uruguay\u00a0<\/span>and<\/span>\u00a0Puerto Rico<\/span>. In\u00a0<\/span>Australia\u00a0<\/span>and the<\/span>\u00a0United States<\/span>, support for the poorest people and the distribution of primary goods and sanitation products ha<\/span>ve<\/span>\u00a0been\u00a0<\/span>stepped up<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

***\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

In addition to this complex and delicate framework, there are ongoing conflicts in many areas of the world. From the troubled Horn and Central Africa<\/span>\u00a0region<\/span>\u00a0with the crisis in\u00a0<\/span>Tigr\u00e8<\/span>\u00a0in Ethiopia, to the clashes in the Democratic Republic of Congo\u00a0<\/span>and<\/span>\u00a0the\u00a0<\/span>G<\/span>reat<\/span>er<\/span>\u00a0Middle East<\/span>\u00a0\u2013<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>starting with\u00a0<\/span>Yemen, where the\u00a0<\/span>terrible<\/span>\u00a0humanitarian crisis has been going on for years<\/span>\u00a0and<\/span>\u00a0shows no sign of diminishing,\u00a0<\/span>and Syria, where ten years of war have destroyed a land rich in history and culture, tearing apart a thousand-year-old fabric of peaceful coexistence and dialogue between different religions.\u00a0<\/span>Not to mention<\/span>\u00a0the unresolved conflicts and tensions in the Caucasus region, particularly in Nagorno-<\/span>Karabakh, recently\u00a0<\/span>the theatre of<\/span>\u00a0military actions\u00a0<\/span>causing<\/span>\u00a0death and destruction, and in Georgia. Here too, I would like to make a heartfelt appeal for<\/span>\u00a0the<\/span>\u00a0full respect\u00a0<\/span>for<\/span>\u00a0human rights.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

We\u00a0<\/span>dedicated<\/span>\u00a0a conference to the\u00a0<\/span>Middle East<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span>and the Holy Land last year, attended by our diplomatic representatives as well as many of<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>the managers of<\/span>\u00a0our projects in the region. We are concerned about the exodus of Christians, not only because\u00a0<\/span>this area is\u00a0<\/span>the cradle of Christianity, but above all because Christians have proven to be an important factor in dialogue between the different religio<\/span>ns<\/span>\u00a0in the region.\u00a0<\/span>I<\/span>n March<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>t<\/span>he Holy Father will travel to Iraq where the Christian\u00a0<\/span>haemorrhage<\/span>\u00a0has increased after the violence\u00a0<\/span>suffered in\u00a0<\/span>recen<\/span>t<\/span>\u00a0years.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

It is precisely i<\/span>n\u00a0<\/span>Iraq<\/span>, in<\/span>\u00a0the<\/span>\u00a0Kurdistan and central Iraq<\/span>\u00a0regions<\/span>,\u00a0<\/span>that our\u00a0<\/span>international humanitarian agency, Malteser International,<\/span>\u00a0has been present since 2014<\/span>\n","news_gallery":"no","news_excerpt":"The\u00a0global pandemic has meant that\u00a0the traditional\u00a0audience\u00a0with the diplomatic corps could not take place\u00a0this year. I\u00a0am very sorry about\u00a0this as it\u00a0would have been the first opportunity to meet you personally.","evidence":"yes"},"news_categories":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lithuaniaembassy.orderofmalta.int\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/notizie\/168","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lithuaniaembassy.orderofmalta.int\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/notizie"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lithuaniaembassy.orderofmalta.int\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/news"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/lithuaniaembassy.orderofmalta.int\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/notizie\/168\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lithuaniaembassy.orderofmalta.int\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/169"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lithuaniaembassy.orderofmalta.int\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=168"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}