The Grand Master of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, Fra\u2019 John T. Dunlap, today received the President of the Slovak Republic, H.E. Mr. Peter Pellegrini, on a courtesy visit to the Magistral Palace, reaffirming the excellent bilateral relations that have flourished since their establishment in 1993 and strengthened through decades of steady, productive cooperation. The Ambassador of the Sovereign Order of Malta to Slovakia, H.S.H. Dr. Alfred Prinz von Sch\u00f6nburg-Hartenstein flew to Rome in order to participate in this significant occasion.<\/p>\n
The Grand Master expressed his deep appreciation to the Slovak Government for its unwavering support of the Order\u2019s humanitarian mission \u2013 support that President Pellegrini personally reiterated during their discussions. Both sides emphasized their commitment to further enhancing collaborative efforts, particularly in light of the recent creation of the Slovak National Association of the Order of Malta in April 2024. This development marks a major milestone in the shared history of the two institutions and provides renewed impetus for broadening the Order\u2019s social initiatives across Slovakia.<\/p>\n
President Pellegrini commended the Order\u2019s steadfast engagement in the country, noting the vital role played by Malteser Aid Slovakia in serving the most vulnerable communities. Active since 2014, the relief organization now counts over 150 members and volunteers. It is particularly dedicated to educational and integration programmes for Roma children and families at community centres in Nitra and Topo\u013e\u010dany \u2013 now indispensable hubs supporting hundreds. Its outreach extends far beyond these efforts: caring for isolated elderly people, distributing meals to the homeless, supporting persons with disabilities, and providing essential medical and social services. The President also expressed gratitude for the organization\u2019s rapid and sustained assistance to Ukrainian refugees from the earliest days of the conflict, both along the border and in Slovak cities that opened their doors to thousands fleeing violence.<\/p>\n
The meeting also allowed for a candid exchange of views on pressing international issues. Both the Grand Master and President Pellegrini voiced grave concern over ongoing violations of human rights in conflict zones, especially in Ukraine and Gaza, and expressed the shared hope for a swift end to hostilities.<\/p>\n
The Order\u2019s humanitarian programmes in crisis regions were presented, together with potential avenues for future joint initiatives in third countries \u2013 details of which will be defined by mutual agreement in the coming months.<\/p>\n
President Pellegrini concluded the visit by extending an official invitation to the Grand Master to visit Slovakia in 2026, an invitation which Fra\u2019 John T. Dunlap accepted with sincere pleasure.<\/p>\n","news_gallery":"yes","news_excerpt":"The Grand Master of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, Fra\u2019 John T. Dunlap, today received the President of the Slovak Republic, H.E. Mr. Peter Pellegrini, on a courtesy visit to the Magistral Palace.\r\n","news_gallery_elements":[{"id":310,"url":"https:\/\/slovakiaembassy.orderofmalta.int\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/82\/2025\/12\/magistralpalace20251204.jpg"},{"id":308,"url":"https:\/\/slovakiaembassy.orderofmalta.int\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/82\/2025\/12\/magistralpalace20251204c.jpg"},{"id":306,"url":"https:\/\/slovakiaembassy.orderofmalta.int\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/82\/2025\/12\/magistralpalace20251204a.jpg"}]},"news_categories":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/slovakiaembassy.orderofmalta.int\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/notizie\/295","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/slovakiaembassy.orderofmalta.int\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/notizie"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/slovakiaembassy.orderofmalta.int\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/news"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/slovakiaembassy.orderofmalta.int\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/notizie\/295\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/slovakiaembassy.orderofmalta.int\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=295"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}