FOOD AND HEALTH AIDS FOR THE CUBAN POPULATION

The Joint Committee that was formed in 1995 as the result of an agreement between the Order of Malta and the Cuban government met in Rome on May 2-3. The purpose of the meeting, which was held in the main office in Palazzo Magistrale, was to update the situation of the distribution of food and health aids collected in the United States by the American Federal Association of the Order of Malta Task Force and sent to Cuba by the Embassy of the Order.

OFFICIAL VISIT OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF NICARAGUA

The Prince and Grand Master Fra’ Andrew Bertie welcomed the official visit of the President of the Republic of Nicaragua, Enrique Bonanos Geyer. Also present at the meeting, which took place in Palazzo Magistrale, were the wife of President Geyer, Lila de Bonanos, and the delegation led by the Minister of Foreign Affairs for Nicaragua, Norman Caldera.

WILL BABIES STILL BE BORN IN BETHLEHEM?

Over recent days, the dramatic situation in Palestine has focused media attention on the Holy Family Maternity Hospital in Bethlehem. This establishment, managed by the Order of Malta, is modern, well equipped and includes a neonatal unit. It is the only institution in the region. Article taken from "Le Figaro" on April,13th 2002

BETHLEHEM: THE ORDER’S FRENCH HOSPITALLER ASSOCIATION CALLS FOR WORLDWIDE SUPPORT

The Order of Malta’s French Hospitaller Association is launching an awareness campaign to help the Holy Family Maternity Hospital in Bethlehem continue to accommodate pregnant women and assist them with the birth of their babies. The hospital, which is managed by the Order of Malta, is modern, well equipped and includes a neonatal unit. It is the only institution in the region. ’We have run the Holy Family Maternity Hospital since 1985, having completely renovated it and trained over 90 professionals to care for expectant mothers. The Order of Malta was founded in Jerusalem more than 900 years ago and our hearts are dedicated to continuing our work in the region,’ declares Jacques de Dumast, chairman of the Order of Malta’s French Hospitaller Association.

VIOLENT CONFLICTS AROUND THE HOSPITAL IN BETHLEHEM

In the early hours of Tuesday 2nd April Bethlehem was once more the theatre of violent conflicts. There was a gun battle in the center of town from 4 AM till 7 PM on Tuesday. The whole area has been put under curfew. Nobody can circulate, not even ambulances.

OFFICIAL VISIT BY CZECH PRESIDENT VÁCLAV HAVEL

The Prince and Grand Master of the Sovereign Order of Malta, Fra' Andrew Bertie, will receive an official visit from the President of the Czech Republic on April 6.

BULLETS HIT BETHLEHEM HOSPITAL AGAIN

Another terrible night at the Order of Malta’s Holy Family Hospital in Bethlehem, Palestine, which was also hit last October 25. An eye-witness account: Towards 1:00 a.m. on 13 March, Israeli tanks stopped at the Beit Jala crossroads, about 50 metres from the main entrance, and opened heavy artillery fire towards the hospital. Aiming high, towards the centre of the city, they struck the nuns’ residence on the second floor, damaging two rooms, one of which was used by our lab technician who, thank God, had just left the room to run some urgent lab tests. The other room was empty. Hundreds of rounds were fired, tens of which hit the state of the Virgin Mary atop the chapel, completely destroying it.

OFFICIAL VISIT TO ROMANIA BY THE ORDER’S GRAND MASTER

The Prince and Grand Master of the Order of Malta, Fra’ Andrew Bertie, will go to Romania on Sunday, March 10, for an official five-day visit, which will culminate in a meeting with Romanian President Ion Iliescu, on March 11th.

HELP FOR KABUL FROM THE ASSOCIATION OF ITALIAN KNIGHTS OF THE SOVEREIGN ORDER OF MALTA

A mission representing Rome’s Grand Priory of the Sovereign Order of Malta is leaving today for Kabul to bring relief to the thousands of children in the Afghan capital’s orphanage, who live in conditions of extreme need.

THE ICON OF PANAGHIA TES PHILEREMOU

For the first time an Italian scholar, Giovannella Bertè Ferraris di Celle, has been allowed to closely observe and photograph the original icon of the Madonna del Fileremo recently found in Montenegro. This scholar has just published a volume entitled "The icon of Panaghia tes Phileremou" on this famous image, about whose real aspect very little has been known until today.