Vatican City: On the Solemnity of Saint John the Baptist, Pope Leo XIV extended heartfelt thanks to the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, praising their enduring service to the poor and their unwavering defense of the faith. In a special message addressed to the Order on the feast of their patron saint, the Pope acknowledged their tireless witness to divine love, especially in regions and circumstances marked by hardship and suffering.
“The Church expresses deep gratitude for the compassion and dedication you bring wherever love is most needed,” Pope Leo affirmed. He lauded their ongoing process of renewal aimed at aligning more closely with the Gospel and encouraged them: “Continue along this path!”
Highlighting the mission entrusted to the Order the protection of the faith (tuitio fidei) and service to the poor (obsequium pauperum) the Holy Father emphasized that these are not separate duties, but two facets of a single vocation. “Faith is preserved and spread through concrete love shown to the most vulnerable to the poor, the forgotten, and the suffering,” he said.
More than charitable aid, the Pope underscored, what is required is an active proclamation of God’s love through both deeds and testimony. “If this spiritual dimension is lost, the Order risks becoming just another charitable organization,” he warned. The aim must always be to convey the nearness of God making His love visible and tangible to those in need.
Turning to spiritual formation, Pope Leo urged members to find inspiration in Saint John the Baptist and to embrace inner transformation as a vital part of their institutional reforms. He stressed that true renewal begins in the heart, nurtured through prayer, silence, and spiritual discipline. Formation, he added, must be profound and grounded in a rhythm of personal and liturgical prayer, as this anchors their outward service in a deeper relationship with Christ.
The Pope also acknowledged the challenges faced in today’s complex world, including the temptation to prioritize worldly efficiency or material resources. While these means are sometimes necessary, he reminded them that they must remain tools not goals. “We are sent into the world,” the Pope said, “but we are not of the world. Let us never forget that distinction.”
He welcomed with joy the Order’s desire to deepen community life among some of its Professed members, seeing it as a hopeful sign. “Living in community offers a tangible way to grow in mutual charity and to be spiritually formed through shared life,” he said.
In closing, Pope Leo expressed his blessing and encouragement to the Order, urging them to remain faithful to their charism and to press forward with courage, humility, and love always guided by the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the example of their patron, Saint John the Baptist.