Dear Dames and Knights,

During the month of April of the current year 2022, different religions solemnly celebrate some of their most important festivities, such as Rama Navami for the Hindus, Ramadan for the Muslims, Passover or Pesach for the Jews and Easter for the Christians, therefore the Grand Master and Head of the State of the Federation of Autonomous Priories of the Sovereign Order of St. John of Jerusalem, Knights of Malta (KMFAP), on behalf of all the Structures of our Sovereign Order and of the Government of our State, comes to express to our Knights and Dames of the different religions the deepest respect and the best wishes to all.

The rules and principles of modern and civilised human societies are based on the teachings of the various religions that have, all of them, similar principles and rules showing to the Mankind the path of good towards perfection.

All religions teach us the virtue of compassion, the importance of mutual respect, the greatness of tolerance and the supreme value of life. These are the values that guide our life in the community of people, both at national and international level, and also rule the relations among the community of states; these are the rules that punish (even with sentences to time in prison) those who mistreat or hurt animals like dogs and cats; these are the rules that make the crimes of war and the killing of civilians (mainly women, children and elderly people) so unacceptable, so repugnant, so repulsive and unacceptable, even for those who, not being religious, are members of a civilised society.

War crimes are pure savagery and even the animals show more respect for each other than some humans do...

In this month, so full of solemn religious festivities, so full of high spiritual energy, this month of prayer, the Grand Master invites all the Knights and Dames of the Federation to reflect about and to pray for those who suffer all the horrors of war and the losses of the priceless lives of their beloved ones.

May the God of all religions save and protect all those who deserve to be saved and who need to be protected.

15th April 2022