Marking the Feast of St Francis of Assisi, and the 800th anniversary of his death, we pay tribute to the Maltese Franciscan Sisters of the Heart of Jesus, who have devoted their lives to serving some of Ethiopia’s most vulnerable children.

Malta’s Ambassador-designate to Ethiopia, accompanied by the Deputy Head of Mission, visited the Kidane Meheret Children’s Home in Addis Ababa, a lasting testament to the humanitarian contribution of Maltese religious sisters in the country.

The Home’s history dates back to 1933, and the Maltese Franciscan Sisters took over its administration in 1996. Under the leadership of Sister Lutgarda Camilleri, who first arrived in Ethiopia in 1969, it has given generations of children shelter, food, healthcare and education and, above all, the love, dignity and sense of belonging that every child deserves.

Their work, often carried out quietly and away from the public eye, is a powerful example of compassion and selflessness. It embodies the enduring spirit of St Francis, is a source of pride for Malta, and reflects the friendship between Malta and Ethiopia.

A heartfelt thank you to Sister Lutgarda and all the Franciscan Sisters, past and present, for the lives they have touched and the hope they continue to bring to so many children.