About Us

Word from the President

Dear Friends of the Order of Malta Lebanon,                                                                        The Order of Malta Lebanon enters a new chapter in its history, guided by an enduring mission and a renewed responsibility towards the communities we serve. As we look to the future, our commitment remains clear: to uphold the values that define our Association while strengthening its foundations to serve with excellence, compassion and dignity for generations to come.                              It is a profound honor to assume the presidency of the Lebanese Association of the Knights of Malta, a responsibility I embrace with humility and determination. Having been closely involved with the Association for over twelve years, I have witnessed first-hand the extraordinary dedication of those who bring our mission to life. Their commitment, rooted in faith and expressed through service, remains our greatest strength.                                                                    I wish to pay particular tribute to Marwan Sehnaoui, whose thirty-three years of visionary leadership have shaped the Order of Malta Lebanon into a respected nationwide institution, deeply rooted in communities and supported by enduring partnerships. His legacy provides strong foundations upon which to build and a responsibility to carry forward.                                                          Continuity also calls for foresight. In an increasingly complex environment, remaining faithful to our mission requires reinforcing sound governance, accountability, transparency and ethical standards, while investing in our people. These principles are essential to preserving trust, ensuring lasting impact and securing the long-term sustainability of our mission.                                  By consolidating our partnerships and ensuring responsible stewardship of resources, we must strengthen the Association’s resilience while safeguarding its independence and apolitical character. Our ambition is not merely to preserve what has been achieved, but to ensure that what we build today continues to serve tomorrow.                                                                                                        In a country facing profound challenges, our mission extends beyond delivering essential services. We strive to alleviate suffering, restore dignity, strengthen resilience and foster trust and coexistence. Serving the sick and most vulnerable, without distinction of religion, origin or affiliation, remains the cornerstone of our identity and contribution to Lebanon.                                              This mission is a collective responsibility, sustained by our Knights and Dames, dedicated teams, volunteers, donors and partners. Together with the newly elected Board, I am committed to nurturing this shared purpose and fostering a culture of collaboration, responsibility and continuous improvement.                    As we move forward, we do so with deep respect for our history, confidence in our collective strength and a clear vision for the future. Our values remain unchanged, as does our determination to stand alongside those who suffer and remain a trusted presence in the communities we serve.Our mission is timeless. Our responsibility is to ensure that it endures.                                                                    Gilbert Ghostine                                                                                                                      President                                                                                                                                            Lebanese Association of the Knights of Malta

Our Story

For over 900 years, the Order of St. John of Jerusalem has been dedicated to serving the poor and vulnerable, founding its first hospital in the Holy Land. Today, the Order of Malta Lebanon continues this legacy by working with all communities across the country and carrying out a network of 60 different projects to ensure individuals’ welfare. All the Order’s activities are thus shaped with the same purpose in mind: uphold the dignity by caring for, nurturing, and empowering each person so that they become vectors of positive change in their own communities. We support all vulnerable populations living in Lebanon, all those who are in need across the Lebanese territory with no distinction, including the differently abled, small farmers, seniors, children as well as displaced and refugees. We partner with governments, organizations, and communities to build a more compassionate world.

Our Mission

·        We serve all communities regardless of nationality or religion, promoting social cohesion and advocating peace and justice through interreligious cooperation·        We work in full transparency and effective governance, collaborating with selected local and international partners and agencies·        We constantly improve and expand our capabilities to become a reference in healthcare and social welfare by offering state of the art services tailored to the local needs of the most vulnerable communities·        We empower vulnerable communities by developing agro-humanitarian and educational projects·        We build a community of engaged volunteers and professionals sharing values of Love, Faith and Devotion through service to the underprivileged

Our Vision

Build a new society strengthened by its religious diversity based on common fundamental values of Love, Peace, Justice, and Coexistence by preserving the dignity and well-being of the vulnerable in Lebanon and beyond.

Historical Timeline

  • 19th Century
  • 1950 - 1970
  • 1971 - 1990
  • 1991 - 2010
  • 2011 - 2030
  • 19th Century Founding of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem by the German branch of the Order
  • 1955 Beginning of the official diplomatic relations between Lebanon and the Order
  • 1957 Inauguration of the first Socio-Medical Center in Zouk by Camille Chamoun, President of Lebanon
  • 1958 Appointment of Engineer Umberto Turati Minister Plenipotentiary to Lebanon
  • 1959 Decoration of President Fouad Chehab with the Order's Medal of Merit
  • 1968 Appointment of Bernard Fattal as Counselor to the Embassy, first person to be Knighted in Lebanon
  • 1979 Appointment of Prince Edward de Lobkowicz as minister plenipotentiary by the Order of Malta in Lebanon. His nomination was all the more important since the ongoing war did not get in his way of opening several new centers across the country
  • 1981 Upgrade of the diplomatic representation of the Order in Lebanon from a delegation to an Embassy, thanks to the Prince’s efforts
  • 1983 Participation of the Lebanese Knights to their first Pilgrimage to Lourdes
  • 1984 Establishment of the Lebanese Association of the Knights of Malta with Nehme Tabet as its first President
  • 1995 Election of Marwan Sehnaoui as President of the Lebanese Association
  • 1998 First holiday camp for the disabled held in Chabrouh by young German volunteers
  • 2001 Appointment of Baron Jacques Guerrier de Dumas as Ambassador
  • 2005 Hosting in Lebanon the International Conference of the Order of Malta on the Middle East
  • 2006 Creation of The Youth of the Order of Malta Lebanon
  • 2009 Holding of the Official visit of H.E. The Prince and Grand Master Fra' Matthew Festing to Lebanon. The Cooperation Convention is signed between the Sovereign Order of Malta and the government of the Republic of Lebanon
  • 2010 Appointment of Patrick Renaud as Ambassador
  • 2012 Appointment Charles-Henri d'Aragon as Ambassador
  • 2017 Visit of the H.E. The Lieutenant of Grand Master Fra Giacomo Dalla Torre to Lebanon
  • 2018 Launch of the 2025 vision
  • 2019 Appointment of Bertrand Besancenot as Ambassador
  • 2021 Establishment of the OMV Lebanon
  • 2022 Inauguration of the expansion of the Ain El Remmaneh center
  • 2023 Appointment of Maria Emerica Cortese as Ambassador
  • 2024 National Launch of the Agro-Humanitarian Program.

Our Values

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Excellence

Striving for excellence

Diversity

Respecting diversity

Humility

Serving with humility

Partners & Donors 2025 - 2026

Our collaboration with donors helps amplify our impact, ensuring greater support and sustainable solutions for those in need. 

Cooperation

Our cooperation with public and private sectors partners strengthens our reach, fostering resilient communities through tailored support and shared commitment.