Malteser help in Rome: medical service during the Holy Year!

Malteser help in Rome: medical service during the Holy Year!

The Maltese from Bonn and the Rhein-Kreis Neuss will perform an important medical service in Rome as part of the Holy Year 2025. A team of eight maltes came together to ensure the first aid of the pilgrims on the four large papal basilicas. These churches include St. Peter's Square, the Lateran Church, St. Paul in front of the walls and Santa Maria Maggiore. Your task is to protect the health of the pilgrims and to provide medical help if necessary.

This Holy Year began with a ceremony that was opened by Pope Francis on December 24, 2024. It is under the motto "Peregrinante in Spem / pilgrim of hope" and lasts until January 11, 2026. During this time, pilgrims from all over the world travel to Rome to pass the holy gate on St. Peter's Basilica. The year is also shaped by important anniversaries, including the 50th anniversary of the second Vatican Council and the 1,700th anniversary of the Nizea Council.

medical service of the Maltese

A total of almost 500 volunteers from Germany are active in the medical service. A team of German paramedics alternates each week with other international teams that come from Austria and Switzerland. Each of the German team consists of a doctor, a nurse, a nurse and two other medical staff. It should be emphasized that the International Order of Malta has received the order to ensure first aid beyond the normal extent.

The team from Bonn and the Rhein-Kreis Neuss is headed by Bernd Liebscher, who works as a speaker for operational services at the Maltese in the Diocese of Cologne. The service is performed daily from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., with the locations switching between the different basilicas every two days. Last weekend the team was in the Lateran Church and the Papal Bazilica Santa Maria Maggiore.

voluntary and operational coordination

The coordination of the operation takes place by the Maltese headquarters in Cologne. Markus Bensmann, who acts as a general operations manager, emphasizes the spiritual experience and the community within the team. So far there have been only a few first aid missions because most pilgrims are well. The search for sufficient volunteers for the service was also without problems.

interested parties who also want to get involved as volunteers have the opportunity to contact the Maltese on site or to inform the website directly.

The Holy Year 2025 not only offers an opportunity for spiritual renewal, but also establishes historical connections to the past and global community. The Maltese are part of a long tradition that goes back to the crusades and show through their efforts how important solidarity action is today.

To get more information about the pilgrimage and activities of the Malteser, interested parties can visit the website of the diocese of Osnabrück: Click here .