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(Rivista Internazionale - December 1999: The Audience of the Diplomatic Corps - 2/2)
GOVERNMENT COUNCIL OF THE ORDER
H.M.E.H. the Grand Master and the Sovereign Council entrusted the Members of the Government Council the delicate tasks of co-operating in fulfilling their tasks. After its fruitful meeting on the 7th of December 1999, the Government Council proposes: 1) to participate with the authorities of the Order a) to study and implement with the Grand Commander a policy in order to attract members of all classes to our Order, and particular "to arouse vocations to the Order"; b) to study and report on the structure of the various offices of the Grand Magistry and analyse the resources available within the Order for the fulfilment of their tasks; c) to study and report on the use of Forte St. Angelo and the possible missions and tasks which could be implemented in those premises; 2) to request the High Charges to present at the next meeting of the Government Council a detailed progress report on: a) the situation prevailing in Latin America regarding the activities of the Order; b) the policy defined, and the steps taken by various existing commissions entrusted with the defence of the order against the false orders; 3) acknowledges with satisfaction and interest that the Sovereign Council has created a commission entrusted with the preparation of a report and recommendations on internal and external communications of the Order, an issue which the Government Council regards as essential to the development of the Order’s mission. MESSAGE FOR PEACE H.M.E.H. the Prince and Grand Master has replied on 29 December to the Message for Peace of His Holiness John Paul II addressed to the humanity. Holy Father, "On earth peace, goodwill toward men". The angel's announcement of 2000 years ago, accompanying the birth of the Son of Man, opens and spells out the Message that Your Holiness is addressing this year to the People of God for the celebration of the World Day of Peace. Peace, therefore. Peace, for ever! Because it is very true that "with war it is humanity who loses" and, as bitter experience teaches us all, "wars are often the cause of other wars", for the legacy of hate and evil that they never fail to leave behind them, a sad Inheritance. We have before our eyes and, even more, in all our hearts "the terrible scenes in which children, women and old people become innocent victims of the conflicts staining our epoch with blood". But the common good of all humanity should – or better must – prevail in pursuing a common peace - enduring in its solidarity – for particular goods, whether they be political, racial or cultural. Because all humanity is called to rediscover its high vocation "of being a single family", of becoming siblings once again, children of the Prince of Peace. "At the beginning of a new century, the poverty of billions of men and women is something that, more than anything else, strikes our human and Christian conscience". Our Common Father's Word is admonition, teaching and exhortation as well as encouragement for all of us marked by the white, eight-pointed cross. All of us who, albeit within the limits of our possibilities, operate in many districts of the world, daily engaged in the battle of charity to relieve human suffering. With these sentiments, I would like to express to Your Holiness, also on behalf of the over eleven thousand of my Knights, Dames, Chaplains and Volunteers, my filial good wishes for the personal prosperity of Your Holiness, indefatigable worker for good, and for this Jubilee Year of metanoia! In union of prayer, I am the most devoted son of Your Holiness, Fra' Andrew Bertie |