in a historical period marked by wars, emergencies, and social unrest, it is important to highlight the Order of Malta’s great commitment to pursuing its founding mission of assisting the needy, the poor, the sick, and vulnerable people through humanitarian, health, and social activities, caring for human dignity without distinction of origin or religion.

In over 130 countries and with more than 180,000 operators, including knights, dames, volunteers, and medical personnel, the Order of Malta provides aid and assistance to populations affected by armed conflicts or natural disasters, providing care to refugees, distributing food, medicines, goods, and equipment to meet their needs, and assisting the needy through numerous medical, health, social, and cultural support projects.

The center of the sheet shows a schematic representation of the geographical distribution of the activities and assistance projects currently carried out by the Order of Malta on five continents. At the top left is the inscription “SOVRANO MILITARE ORDINE DI MALTA”, in the center is the Order’s coat of arms, and on the right is the inscription “LE ATTIVITÀ UMANITARIE NEL MONDO”.

The stamps at the top and bottom of the sheet, three on each side, represent some of the most significant projects. In particular:

• humanitarian aid to Gaza, with the delivery, to date, in close coordination with the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, of over 300 tons of food and basic necessities to support the population, which has been severely affected by the war that has been ongoing for over two years;
• the Medical Center for women and children, established in East Timor, one of the poorest countries in Asia, in collaboration with the local government, equipped with clinics and operating rooms capable of providing primary care to the sick and needy;
• rescue operations for migrants in the Mediterranean, which, on the basis of a cooperation agreement with Italy, have been carried out for over 15 years on board Coast Guard ships by doctors and paramedics of the Order. Since 2008, more than 300,000 people have been rescued at sea;
• the agro-humanitarian project in Lebanon, “Harvesting Hope, Growing Resilience,” in cooperation with the Lebanese government, supporting agricultural development in the country for food security, economic recovery, and support for the most needy populations;
• assistance to prisoners in numerous prisons in the United States, providing moral and spiritual support, but also rehabilitation and training for a successful reintegration into social life at the end of their sentence;
• humanitarian aid efforts in Ukraine, in support of the population severely affected and tested by the conflict that has been ongoing since 2022, through numerous activities, both in Ukraine and in neighboring countries, providing shelter and assistance to refugees.

In addition to the descriptions of the activities represented, each stamp bears the words “SOVRANO MILITARE ORDINE DI MALTA” and “POSTE MAGISTRALI” , the coat of arms of the Order’s activities, and the relevant face value.