Malta Order, direct intervention of the Holy See to extend the regency

No election of the new Prince Grand Master for the Sovereign Military Order of Malta (or, more fully, the Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of St. John of Jerusalem, Cyprus, Rhodes and Malta) but an extension of the current lieutenancy, despite being reached the time limit of its mandate. It is with a letter from Pope Francis to Cardinal Tomasi (Read), the pope’s special delegate at the Smom, that there is an (apparently unprecedented) intervention in the internal events of the Melitense Order. “I have therefore decided to extend from this moment Fra ‘Marco Luzzago in his office as Lieutenant of the Grand Master until the conclusion of the Extraordinary General Chapter and subsequent election of a new Grand Master by the Council Complete of State ”reads the letter from the Pontiff, released by a bulletin from the Vatican Press Office. Order of Malta, the election of the new Grand Master in November: tensions over tradition and reforms This intervention has yet to be fully deciphered in its consequences. The first reading seems to be of support to those who led the Order in the last year (Fra ‘Luzzago was appointed Lieutenant on 8 November last and by constitution has a position that cannot extend for more than a year), to a structural reform of the laws that govern what is at the same time a lay religious order of the Catholic Church since 1113 and a primary subject of international law, with active diplomatic relations with over 100 countries and with the European Union, has the status of Permanent Observer at the United Nations and is active in about 120 countries. The Prince Grand Master is the only Head of State and Sovereign in the world to have the rank of Cardinal, even if he does not participate in the conclave. Reading the Pontiff’s letter, in fact, one finds these passages: “I noted, with gratitude, the positive steps carried out as regards the spiritual and moral renewal of the Order, especially of the Professed Members, as well as the process of updating the Constitutional Charter and the Melitense Code, the latter being of fundamental importance not only in view of the next Extraordinary General Chapter, but above all for the renewal of the Order. Having acknowledged what has been done also with the consultation of the Professed, the Sovereign Council, the Procurators, Regents and Presidents, so that the work already undertaken can bear fruit, it is important that the Extraordinary General Chapter be celebrated in the conditions suitable to ensure the necessary renewal in the life of the Order “. In the continuation of what Pope Francis wrote, there are also operational indications for his delegate, Cardinal Tomasi: “In order to be able to continue this important work of renewal, as my Special Delegate, you have all the powers necessary to decide any issues that may arise. should arise for the implementation of the mandate entrusted to you. As my Special Delegate, he has the power to invoke aspects of the ordinary government of the Order, also derogating, if necessary, from the current Constitutional Charter and the current Melitense Code, as well as to resolve all internal conflicts of the Order pursuant to auctoritate Summi Pontificis “. And here there also seem to be the conditions if not for a quasi-commissioner of the Order, at least for a direct control over the completion of the reforms and the exit from the transitory phase of management.In fact, Francis assigns special powers to his delegate. “Furthermore, in view of the next Extraordinary General Chapter, in order to meet any problems that may arise, I expressly attribute to you the following powers: – to convene the Extraordinary General Chapter for a date that you will determine and to co-chair it; – define an ad hoc regulation for the composition and celebration of the Extraordinary General Chapter; – approve the Constitutional Charter and the Melitense Code; – proceed with the renewal of the Sovereign Council in accordance with the new regulatory texts; – convoke the Council Complete of State for the election of a new Grand Master ”. So a surprise move, with the Pontiff intending to closely monitor the events in Melito.