The Ambassador of the Sovereign Order of Malta to the Republic of Austria, H.E. Ambassador DI Sebastian Prinz von Schoenaich-Carolath, and the Grand Prior of Austria, Fra’ Gottfried Kühnelt-Leddihn, hosted an Embassy reception on 24 June 2024 in the premises of Vienna’s St. Johanns Club. The occasion was the patron saint’s day of St John the Baptist, the patron saint of the Order of Malta. This day is therefore considered an official bank holidays of the oldest Catholic relief order in the world with international legal status.

On the premises of the St. John’s Club in Vienna’s Inner City, the Ambassador and the Grand Prior welcomed many high-ranking guests, including numerous representatives of religious organisations, over 30 members of the Diplomatic Corps, as well as representatives of ministries and several aid organisations.

H.E. Ambassador DI Sebastian Prince von Schoenaich-Carolath opened the reception with an urgent appeal to the Order of Malta’s worldwide mission to serve the poor and the sick. He highlighted the alarming figures and devastating effects of global human trafficking and emphasised the urgent need for international cooperation to combat this crime. He emphasised that the Order of Malta’s commitment as a neutral and independent organisation is internationally recognised because its sole focus is to provide effective assistance to those affected, without pursuing national or economic interests. Furthermore, all aid provided by the Order of Malta is independent of the religious affiliation or origin of those in need – a principle that has applied since the first hospital was founded in Jerusalem in 1048.

In Austria, H.E. Ambassador Schoenaich-Carolath has succeeded in setting up a monitoring centre together with the Archdiocese of Salzburg in order to observe the current situation and developments in the field of human trafficking in our country and to be able to take appropriate initiatives.