The Order of Malta is responding to the invitation of Pope Francis to actively participate in this second World Day of the Poor. The cry of the poor man is he who may be poor in spirit or in body. The Order has answered this cry for help from the destitute throughout its history. It inspires the Order's thousands of members and volunteers.

All over the world we run soup kitchens for the homeless - in 2017, distributing 5,500,000 meals - we offer social and medical aid to the disadvantaged and the desperate on the six continents, support victims of natural disasters, give comfort to those who are poor in spirit. In the 120 countries where we work, our efforts continue unabated to serve those in need.

Today is no different from any other day - except that our organisations around the world unite with His Holiness himself, in prayer and action, to mark the need for a combined effort to reduce poverty.

The Order of Malta will launch an international communications campaign in the preceding days, to raise awareness of the shocking percentage of the world's population who live below the poverty line, in the hope that together we will, and we must, continue to make a difference.

On the World Day of the Poor, the Maltese Association organised an event for several disadvantaged children and their families, in conjunction with the Radisson Hotel, St Julian's. Participants were entertained to a tea party, complete with animation for the children.

The Maltese Association of The Order of Malta is very active in volunteer work with daily visits to Oncology patients, weekly prison visits are organised to aid young foreign inmates and hosting of regular events for marginalised members of society, as well as a variety of other hospitaller initiatives. The Association's pilgrimage to Lourdes, which is organised annually over the first Sunday of May, has now reached over 300 participants, joining the international pilgrimage of over 8,000.

The Sovereign Order of Malta is one of the oldest institutions of Western and Christian civilisation. A lay religious order of the Catholic Church since 1113 and a subject of international law, the Sovereign Order of Malta has diplomatic relations with over 100 states and the European Union, and permanent observer status at the United Nations. It is neutral, impartial and a political.