Towards the Second Millennium

n the last quarter of this century the Order of Malta has widened its field of action considerably: from the limited area of the Palace in Via Condotti it now attracts world-wide attention and has established its ideals firmly in every corner of the globe. The turning point was due, above all, to the great personality of Grand Master Fra' Angelo de Mojana di Cologna, who realised the need for a process of modernisation as times were changing.

Diplomatic recognition by the Republic of Malta, the transformation of Legations into Embassies and interest in International Organisations were the different manifestations of political farsightedness that in 1987, a particular moment for the ancient Order of Chivalry, led Grand Master de Mojana to conceive the project of the Future Strategies in view of the year 2000. At that time the peripheral organisations had already begun to see the possibility of a wider participation on their part in the life of the Order. The Presidents of the Associations became spokesmen for these requests. They felt the need to meet and exchange ideas and adhere to a programme that could better interpret the dictates of Vatican Council II while adapting existing structures to the requirements of the final years of this century. In November 1987 Fra' Angelo de Mojana di Cologna summoned the first seminar for the Future Strategies, entrusting its co-ordination to the Receiver of the Common Treasure, Count Carlo Marullo di Condojanni.

The Seminar was held in December 1988 in the absence of Fra' Angelo de Mojana who had died a few months earlier. The results of those meetings were considered his political testament. A testament that his successor Fra' Andrew Bertie, the first English Grand Master in the history of the Order, accepted by presiding over the meeting and by promoting further discussions about the problems that emerged during the debate. Over one hundred participants from all over the world worked in groups to single out the goals of the future activities: spirituality, hospital works, civil defence, fund raising, the distribution of resources and the study of the various badges and emblems of the Order. It was an enormous and complex venture that was to give concrete results in all fields.

As regards communications, the creation of new publications has allowed a more widespread diffusion of data regarding the activities of the Order all over the world thus bringing about greater participation in the same by the members of the Order. With respect to civil defence, much has been achieved: the then Grand Chancellor Baron Felice Catalano di Melilli signed an international agreement with the Italian Minister responsible for Civil Defence which regulates the relations between the Italian State and the Order of Malta in case of any natural disaster.

In the field of health service very precise instructions were issued as to: the need for greater responsibility on the part of the Order's Associations in their activities as well as co-ordination and exchange of know-how and ideas; the co-ordination of specific programmes of instruction, medical Research and refresher courses; co-operation with organisations outside the Order; expansion of the First Aid Corps as a means of recruitment and as an instrument to improve the formation of the members of the Order and finally, a particular commitment with respect to international aid.

Regarding the problem of fund-raising and the distribution of resources, it was decided to proceed with the collection of funds at local, regional and international levels. It was also suggested that each entity of the Order should manage its own work within its own territory while the international projects should be administered by co-ordinating centres with full responsibility to see the work completed, also utilising the funds of the national and international organisations.

With respect to the emblems, it was felt necessary to establish which could and must be used by the Embassies and the various organisations to give a single external image of the Order. The seminar made it possible to study the different aspects of the life of the Order and to establish guidelines for the future.

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