To mark the Papal visit, the Grand Priory of the Maltese Islands in the Order of St Lazarus hosted the visit to Malta of Patriarch Gregorius III, Spiritual Protector of the Order. He was accompanied by Mgr Joseph Absi, Archbishop of Damascus, and Mgr Archimandrite Mtanios Haddad, the Patriarch's delegate to the Holy See. A gala dinner was held at the Grand Hotel Excelsior, Floriana.