H.M.E.H. the Prince and Grand Master of the Order of Malta, Fra’ John T. Dunlap, arrived in Krakow on 26 January to attend the celebrations of the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz concentration camp.

On 27 January, the Grand Master and his delegation, accompanied by Ambassador Niels Lorijn, Count Jacek Tarnowski, President of the Polish Association of the Order of Malta and several members of the Order in Krakow, were received by H.E. Aleksander Miszalski, Mayor of Krakow and Mr Szczęsny Filipiak. The cordial discussions centred around the Malta Centre for Disabled Children and their Families in Wola Justowska and other medical and social activities of the Order in Poland.

Following the meeting, the Grand Master and his delegation attended Holy Mass at the Church of the Transfiguration of the Lord at 2 Pijarska St., which was celebrated by the Provincial of the Polish Province of the Piarist Order, Fr Mateusz Pindelski.

After the Mass, Order of Malta members and volunteers had the opportunity to spend some time with the Grand Master. In the afternoon, the delegation travelled to Auschwitz to attend the 80th anniversary celebrations.