On Wednesday, 7 April, the French Ambassador in Italy, Christian Masset, accompanied by his Counsellor Aurélien Del Fiol, was hosted for a working lunch at Villa Magistrale. Ambassador Masset was received – observing the due COVID – 19 measures – by Ambassador Stefano Ronca, Counsellor Moroello Diaz della Vittoria Pallavicini and Dr. Marina Favale.

The Grand Hospitaller of the Order, Dominique de la Rochefoucauld-Montbel, the Procurator of the Grand Priory of Rome, Ambassador Amedeo De Franchis and the Diplomatic Counsellor of the Ministry of Defence, Ambassador Massimo Marotti, also took part in the lunch.

The topics of conversation were humanitarian activities in the world, with particular reference to Europe, the Middle East and Africa, the ‘Doctor to Doctor’ programme, the hospitaller activities of the Ordre de Malte France and Malteser international in Africa, with particular attention to the numerous hospitals and dispensaries.

Another topic of discussion was migration across the Mediterranean and the refugees from Libya assisted by the Order of Malta’s and the recent course on human rights and fundamental freedoms held by SMOM in collaboration with the San Remo Institute for twenty Libyan high officials from the Ministry of the Interior, Defence, Justice, Labour and the Coast Guard, as well as humanitarian activities in Italy for further potential forms of cooperation between France and the Order of Malta in third countries.