Upon completion of the reform process of the Sovereign Order of Malta, Pope Francis today promulgated the new Constitutional Charter and the related Melitense Code, approved by him, providing for their
immediate entry into force
.
The Pontiff also decreed the
revocation of high offices, the dissolution of the current Sovereign Council and the constitution of a provisional Sovereign Council,
as well as the convocation of the Extraordinary General Chapter for January 25, 2023, which will take place in compliance with the new Regulations approved by Dad.
"The Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of St. John of Jerusalem, Rhodes and Malta has always enjoyed particular protection by the Apostolic See", Francis begins in the decree issued today, also underlining that being it
"a religious Order, it depends on the its various articulations, from the Holy See "
.
"With paternal solicitude and concern I have followed the path of the Order in recent years - continues the Pontiff -, appreciating the works carried out in various parts of the world, also thanks to the generous contribution of Members and Volunteers, and
also noting the need to start a profound spiritual, moral and institutional renewal of the whole Order,
especially and not only of the Members of the First Class, but also of those of the Second Class ".
"To this end - he recalls - I have entrusted to my Special Delegate, Cardinal Silvano Maria Tomasi, cs, this important work of reform, as well as the
revision of the Constitutional Charter
and the Melitense Code and the preparation of the Extraordinary General Chapter".
"Many steps have been taken - observes the Pope -, but just as many obstacles and difficulties encountered along the way".
"After listening and talking with various representatives of the Order - he adds -, the time has come to complete the
process of renewal that has
begun, in fidelity to the original charism".
Therefore "to protect the unity and the greater good of the Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of St. John of Jerusalem, Rhodes and Malta", Francis promulgates "the new Constitutional Charter and the related Melitense Code, approved by me, disposing of immediate entry into force ".
And decrees "the
revocation of the High Offices
;" the dissolution of the current Sovereign Council ";" the constitution of a provisional Sovereign Council ", made up of the following members: Fra 'Emmanuel Rousseau - Grand Commander, Riccardo Paternò di Montecupo - Grand Chancellor, Fra 'Alessandro de Franciscis - Grand Hospital, Fabrizio Colonna - Receiver of the Common Treasure; and Fra' Roberto Viazzo, Fra 'Richard Wolff, Fra' John Eidinow, Fra 'Joao Augusto Esquivel Freire de Andrade, Fra' Mathieu Dupont, Antonio Zanardi Landi, Michael Grace, Francis Joseph McCarthy, Mariano Hugo Windisch-Graetz.
The Pope then orders the
convocation of the Extraordinary General Chapter for January 25, 2023
, the feast of the Conversion of St. Paul, "which will take place in compliance with the new Regulations approved by me".
The Extraordinary General Chapter "will be prepared by my Special Delegate and the Lieutenant of the Grand Master, assisted by the provisional Sovereign Council".
Finally, Francis confirms "all the faculties attributed in the past to my Special Delegate up to the conclusion of the Extraordinary General Chapter, which will be co-chaired by him and the Lieutenant of the Grand Master".
