HMEH Fra’ John Dunlap, Prince and Grand Master of the Sovereign Order of Malta, departed from Hungary in the afternoon of September 18 after a successful two-day visit.

During the first day, in addition to meeting HE Dr. Tamás Sulyok, President of the Republic, the Grand Master and his entourage held discussions with Deputy Prime Minister Zsolt Semjén, and signed the extension of the “Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of Hungary and the Sovereign Military Order of Malta on humanitarian cooperation and assistance to religious and ethnic minorities suffering persecution in crisis regions”, originally signed in 2019. The Grand Master also met the HE Archbishop Michael Banach, Apostolic Nuncio.

In the afternoon, the Grand Master and his entourage visited the Palatine crypt in the Royal Castle, where the first President of the Hungarian Association, Archduke Joseph von Habsburg (1928-1953), is entombed. They were accompanied by HIRH Archduke Michael of Habsburg-Lorraine, HIRH Archduchess Christiana, and HIRH Archduke Eduard of Habsburg-Lorraine, Ambassador of Hungary to the Holy See and to the Order of Malta. They also visited the nearby Coronation Church (Matthias Church), where János Wettstein G.C.H.D.O, guided HMEH the Grand Master through the Church. After a short prayer at the side altar holding the relic of Blessed Charles IV, last King of Hungary and member of the Order, the Grand Master and the delegation visited the oratory of the Order of Malta, that had served as the Chapel of the Association before 1945; and they were shown the nearly 100 personal shields of the deceased Knights of the Order, which hang on the walls of the oratory, the corridors, vestibule and crypt. HMEH the Grand Master and the delegation were impressed by the exhibits in the Royal Loggia above the choir, from where the Grand Master turned to the main altar for a moment of silent prayer.

The evening ended with a dinner hosted by HE Ambassador Dr. Heinz Anton Hafner and Kristóf Szabadhegÿ, President of the Hungarian Association.

The second day began with the visit to the Blessed Gerard psychiatric hospital in Pomáz, after which the Grand Master and his entourage were hosted for lunch by His Eminence Cardinal Peter Erdő.