On 22 June 2024, in the presence of H.E. Ambassdor Prince of Schoenaich-Carolath 15 ladies and gentlemen were welcomed as new members of the Sovereign Order of Malta during a solemn service in Vienna’s St Charles’ Church. The Order’s activities in Austria began back in 1146 and have been continuously expanded ever since. As the oldest Catholic lay order in the world, with over 13,500 members worldwide, the Order of Malta continues to grow in Austria.

In a solemn ceremony attended by over 500 people, the new members made their vows to the Order into the hands of the Grand Prior of Austria, Fra’ Gottfried Kühnelt-Leddihn. The Admission High Mass in the Karlskirche in Vienna was presided over by the Chief Chaplain of the Order of Malta and Archabbot of St Peter’s in Salzburg, Dr P. Korbinian Birnbacher OSB.

The admission marks a significant milestone in the lives of the new members and strengthens the mission of the Order of Malta: to preserve the faith and to serve the poor and the sick. The new members, who were admitted to the Order after intensive spiritual preparation, bring with them a wide range of skills and a deep sense of dedication. They have committed themselves to living and working according to the principles and values of the order. Many of them have already demonstrated their Christian charity for many years, for example through their service in the Malteser Hospitaldienst Austria. In this relief organisation of the Order, which is organised exclusively on a voluntary basis, the approximately 2,200 members provide social, medical and disaster relief services. Over 60% of the Order’s members are active in Malteser Hospitaldienst Austria or other relief organisations of the Order.

‘It is a great pleasure and honour for us to welcome these dedicated and inspiring people into our community,‘ says Grand Prior Fra’ Kühnelt-Leddihn. ‘Their commitment and dedication enrich our order and strengthen our humanitarian and charitable activities in Austria and worldwide.’ The admission is a sign of the order’s continued vitality and growth. Mr Kühnelt-Leddihn concludes: ‘We would like to thank all those who have pledged to be even more spiritually active and to place more of their work at the service of the poor and sick.’ He added: ‘As we were also able to welcome 57 mostly young people into the Malteser Hospitaldienst Austria on the same occasion, I look forward with great confidence to the further positive development of the Order of Malta. I wish all the young Maltese that, on the basis of their faith and Christian charity, they will find much joy in their voluntary work and fulfil their service with dedication, so that we can continue to invite some of them to join the Order in the future.’