At the request of the Holy Father, the Order of Malta is providing medical assistance to pilgrims in the four Papal Basilicas and in St Peter’s Square for all Jubilee weeks (15/12/2024-11/01/2026).

Knights, Dames and volunteers of the Order of Malta from around the world have answered the call with a team from Australia manning the first aid stations for a week in May.

Order of Malta member and Australian Jubilee Medical Team participant, Dr Zelle Hodge, AM, shares her account of the experience.

“Our team of four included Rob Hodge, Sean Parnell, Alex Ross and myself.

It was a great experience, particularly with the Inauguration of Pope Leo during the week we were volunteering.

On Saturday 17 May, we were issued with our security passes, metro passes, Order of Malta armband and Jubilee tie for men and neck scarf for women.

The roster had a system whereby each team did an afternoon shift followed by a morning shift at each Basilica and then moved on to the next Basilica. Our first rostered shift was on the Saturday afternoon at the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore.  When we arrived, we were able (with our Order of Malta armband) to move past the line of pilgrims waiting to queue to the tomb of Pope Francis.

Jubilee Order of Malta Medical Teams – Call to Service:

• Teams consist of four volunteers, including a medical doctor, a nurse or paramedic and two helpers.
• Each group serve inside in the four Papal Basilicas and in St Peter’s Square on a rotating basis and will have a fully equipped post in the Basilica or in its adjacent area.

• Working hours are divided into two shifts: from 7:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. and from 1:30 pm until 7:30 pm; for all days of the week, for all the four basilicas.
•  Participants serve entirely on a voluntary basis and travel expenses to and from Rome are paid by the volunteers themselves.
• English and Italian are the working languages.

On the Sunday morning 18 May it was the morning for the Inauguration of Pope Leo at St Peter’s Square.  As we were leaving from our accommodation, we saw the barricades up and the faithful beginning to arrive at St Peter’s.  The Irish team, who were rostered on for St Peter’s, had been instructed to arrive at 5.15am.

Probably because of the early hour but also no doubt due to the Inauguration at St Peter’s, the Basilica of St Mary Major was very quiet with few there when we arrived unlike the previous afternoon.  It gave us the opportunity to walk around peacefully and pray at Pope Francis’ tomb and marvel at the beauty of the Basilica.  The story is that Christopher Columbus brought back gold from the New World and gave it to the King and Queen of Spain who gave it to the Pope to decorate the Basilica.  It is indeed very beautiful.

The morning shifts starting at 7.30am at each Basilica meant that we could enjoy the beauty and peace of the Basilica when there were few people around.

Monday afternoon and Tuesday morning we were stationed at St Paul’s Outside the Walls.  Tuesday afternoon we went to the Villa Magistrale, located on the Aventine Hill for a ceremony in the Chapel and then a presentation of medals by the Grand Commander followed by afternoon tea.

We then made our way back to St Paul’s Outside the Walls as Pope Leo was to be there at 5pm for a service to claim the Basilica.  Our Order of Malta Armbands were invaluable in enabling us to bypass the rest of the queue of faithful going through security.  It was very, very special to be able to see Pope Leo at such close range and attend the service.

Wednesday afternoon and Thursday morning we were at St Peter’s Basilica and again the armbands enabled us to bypass queues to go into St Peter’s.  The altar, seating and barricades were still up from the morning general Papal audience.  As we had the experience the previous afternoon at St Pauls when Pope Leo came there, we did not need to go with the crowds on the Wednesday morning for the Papal audience.  The Irish team that had been on for the morning told us the main problems they had related to the rush of people once they were allowed in.  There were a few injuries.

Thursday afternoon we had been invited to afternoon tea with the Australian Ambassador, Keith Pitt.  He was appointed only a couple of months earlier and told us when the Conclave was on, they had a telescope set up in the room we were in as it looked straight across to the chimney on the Sistine Chapel.  When the white smoke went up the Ambassador and staff hurried down to St Peter’s Square to be there when Pope Leo came out.  The Ambassador was very pleased that he was able to organize for Anthony Albanese to meet with Pope Leo. 

Madonna, his assistant, had been with the Embassy since 2008 when Tim Fischer was appointed as the first permanent resident ambassador to the Holy See.  She was most interested to know of the Australian Order of Malta sending volunteers over to Rome.  We told her we thought possibly this was the first occasion that this had occurred.

Friday afternoon we were rostered on at St John Lateran.  This was our last shift, after which we returned our armbands and metro passes to be given to the next week of volunteers.

We greatly appreciated the opportunity to spend this week as we did in Rome.  Not only was it particularly special because of the events happening but it enabled the work of the Order to be profiled. We also had the experience of being able to spend time in the four Basilicas and enter the Jubilee Door in each.

The clinics were equipped very well but fortunately we had few patients requiring our medical skill. As our patients were few, one of the great aspects of it all was sitting together being able to chat and share of our life and views with the other three members of the team.”