{"id":601,"date":"2025-11-29T12:58:47","date_gmt":"2025-11-29T10:58:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/austriaembassy.orderofmalta.int\/?post_type=news&p=601"},"modified":"2025-11-29T13:09:42","modified_gmt":"2025-11-29T11:09:42","slug":"official-visit-of-the-grand-master-to-the-republic-of-austria","status":"publish","type":"news","link":"https:\/\/austriaembassy.orderofmalta.int\/en\/news\/official-visit-of-the-grand-master-to-the-republic-of-austria\/","title":{"rendered":"Official visit of the Grand Master to the Republic of Austria"},"featured_media":0,"menu_order":0,"template":"","class_list":["post-601","news","type-news","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":{"hidden_news":"no","evidence":"yes","focus_on":"no","breaking":"yes","news_cover":{"id":602,"url":"https:\/\/austriaembassy.orderofmalta.int\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/79\/2025\/11\/SMRO-PA-2025-11-28-Bild1.jpg"},"cover_image_copyrighted":false,"sub_title":"The meeting reaffirmed the excellent state of relations, among the longest-standing for the Order","news_content":"
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The Ambassdor of the Sovereign Order of Malta to the Republic to Austria, H.E. Sebastian Prince of Schoenaich-Carolath organised in close cooperation with various authorities the official visit of the Grand Master of the Sovereign Order of Malta, Fra\u2019 John Dunlap, to the Republic of Austria on November 28, 2025. The official visit to Austria startet with the reception of the Grand Master by Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen at the Hofburg, the official residence of the Austrian President, where a private meeting between the two Heads of State took place. Followed by a working session with their respective delegations, the meeting confirmed the excellent relations at all levels between Austria and the Sovereign Order of Malta\u2014among the most well established in the Order\u2019s history.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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During the discussions, Fra\u2019 John Dunlap emphasized the shared commitment to support the most vulnerable: \u201cToday\u2019s meeting demonstrates the fruitful co-operation between Austria and the Order of Malta. The Order\u2019s mission to care for the most vulnerable worldwide is more pertinent than ever. Its universal principles of solidarity and the protection of human life remain steadfast. We are fully aware that we share such a vision with the Republic of Austria.\u201d<\/p>\n

President Van der Bellen highlighted the historical depth of relations between Austria and the Order of Malta, expressing great appreciation for the humanitarian activities carried out in crisis contexts such as Ukraine and Gaza, as well as for the social and healthcare initiatives developed in Austria.<\/p>\n

A key moment of the day was the joint visit by the Grand Master, President Van der Bellen and the First Lady to the Malteser Ordenshaus, the modern care home for the elderly and the sick run by the Order of Malta, located in the heart of Vienna and inaugurated in 2022. Equipped with state-of-the-art healthcare services, the facility offers 72 permanent places and ensures a homely and decorous environment for its residents. The care home has modern apartments, shared spaces such as a library, a historic refectory, a gym, treatment rooms and a professional healthcare service available 24 hours a day. After meeting residents, staff, and volunteers, the Grand Master and the President unveiled a commemorative plaque, highlighting their shared commitment to supporting the most vulnerable.<\/p>\n

On the occasion of the visit, the Grand Chancellor, Riccardo Patern\u00f2 di Montecupo, and the Federal Minister for the EU, Integration and Family, Claudia Plakolm, signed a Memorandum of Understanding. The memorandum includes cooperation initiatives promoting religious freedom and development projects in third countries, further strengthening the partnership between Austria and the Order of Malta and their joint contribution in the international arena.<\/p>\n

The day concluded with a meeting between the Grand Master and the Mayor and Governor of Vienna, Dr. Michael Ludwig, during which they discussed cooperation with the city and the role of the Order\u2019s institutions in providing social and healthcare services to the most vulnerable citizens.<\/p>\n

A collaboration rooted in centuries \u2013 The Order of Malta in Austria<\/strong><\/p>\n


\n<\/strong>Austria is home to one of the Order of Malta\u2019s oldest establishments, the Grand Priory of Austria, dating back to the 12th century. Today, it is complemented by the work of\u00a0 Malteser Hospitaldienst Austria, founded in 1956, which is active in the fields of medical, social and disaster relief. With over 2,200 volunteers who are also actively helping in the recent crises in Ukraine and the Middle East, the Malteser Hospitaldienst Austria is one of the operational pillars of the Order of Malta\u2019s mission. In addition, the Order\u2019s activities in Austria include the modern care home Malteser Ordenshaus, Maltese Care mobile care service, and Maltese Children\u2019s Aid, which runs the Hilde Umdasch House for children and young people with life-shortening diseases.<\/p>\n

Photo-credit: Order of Malta \u2013 Christian Lendl<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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<\/div>\n","news_gallery":"yes","news_gallery_elements":[{"id":604,"url":"https:\/\/austriaembassy.orderofmalta.int\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/79\/2025\/11\/SMRO-PA-2025-11-28-Bild2.jpg"},{"id":606,"url":"https:\/\/austriaembassy.orderofmalta.int\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/79\/2025\/11\/SMRO-PA-2025-11-28-Bild3.jpg"},{"id":608,"url":"https:\/\/austriaembassy.orderofmalta.int\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/79\/2025\/11\/SMRO-PA-2025-11-28-Bild4.jpg"},{"id":610,"url":"https:\/\/austriaembassy.orderofmalta.int\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/79\/2025\/11\/SMRO-PA-2025-11-28-Bild5.jpg"},{"id":612,"url":"https:\/\/austriaembassy.orderofmalta.int\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/79\/2025\/11\/SMRO-PA-2025-11-28-Bild6.jpg"}],"news_excerpt":"During his visit to the Republic of Austria, the Grand Master of the Order of Malta, Fra' John Dunlap, was welcomed by Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen at the Hofburg Palace in Vienna. The two heads of state visited the MALTESER Ordenshaus and MALTESER Care nursing facilities in Vienna together. A meeting with the Mayor of Vienna, Dr Michael Ludwig, and a working meeting between the Grand Chancellor and Federal Minister Claudia Plakolm rounded off the visit."},"news_categories":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/austriaembassy.orderofmalta.int\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/notizie\/601","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/austriaembassy.orderofmalta.int\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/notizie"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/austriaembassy.orderofmalta.int\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/news"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/austriaembassy.orderofmalta.int\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/notizie\/601\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/austriaembassy.orderofmalta.int\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=601"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}