News

Sovereign Order donates ambulance to the Vatican to mark opening of the Jubilee Year

Over 2000 Order of Malta volunteers are signed up for the first-aid stations in Rome’s four basilicas,  over the course of the Jubilee Year. To mark the start of activities, the Order has donated an ambulance to the Vatican – today inaugurated by Grand Master Fra’ John Dunlap. Over 30 million pilgrims are expected during 2025.

The event took place in the Governor’s Palace, Vatican City. The Grand Master, accompanied by the Grand Hospitaller, Fra’ Alessandro De Franciscis and the Receiver, Fabrizio Colonna was welcomed by the President of the Governorate, Cardinal Fernando Vérgez Alzaga LC, the Secretary General, Sister Raffaella Petrini FSE, the Deputy Secretary General, Giuseppe Puglisi Alibrandi and the Directorate of Health and Hygiene, represented by Director Andrea Arcangeli and Deputy Director Luigi Carbone.

Fra; John Dunlap: “These initiatives further emphasize the strong synergy with the Holy See and Pope Francis and, above all, they reinforce our charism and mission to serve the poor, the needy and the faith.”

 The Order’s volunteers will work two shifts per day in each basilica. A doctor, a nurse and two first-aiders will be present for every shift, totalling 32 volunteers per week for 55 weeks, in line with the Holy Doors opening and closing dates in the four basilicas. The service’s centre of operations will be the First-Aid Station in St Peter’s Square, which is managed by the Order of Malta. For 45 years it has been providing medical assistance to pilgrims 365 days a year.