(Rivista Internazionale - December 1998: SOLEMN ANNOUNCEMENT IN MALTA FOR SMOM’S NINE CENTURIES - 1/3)

Ninth Centenary

WITH A WORLD GATHERING OF THE KNIGHTS
Solemn Announcement in Malta for the SMOM's Nine Centuries
On this occasion, the agreement with the Maltese Republic for the concession of Fort St. Angelo was signed

La Valletta. Malta. Fort Sant’Angelo with the flags of the Sovereign Order and the Republic of Malta.

To celebrate the Order’s Nine Centuries, H.M.E.H. the Prince and Grand Master, Fra’ Andrew Bertie, opened the Jubilee Year at the beginning of December in Malta. There will be a full calendar of events for all of 1999, mostly of a spiritual nature, based on the principles on which all the Knights must base their action. The first step of the Jubilee Year was taken on 4th December with an international press conference, during which H.E. the Grand Chancellor, Amb. Count Carlo Marullo di Condojanni, outlined the agreement with the Republic of Malta to be signed the next day; he also confirmed the Order’s return to Malta, although stressing that it would not affect its close, traditional link with the Italian Republic, with the Vatican and with Rome, where the Grand Master will continue to reside. On 5th December, over 900 Knights, with the Order’s Sovereign Council, paraded in church robes along the streets of Valletta, meeting up in St. John’s Co-Cathedral where a mass initiated the celebrations. Besides H.M.E.H. and the Order’s High Officers, the mass was attended by the President of Malta, H.E. Dr. Ugo Mifsud Bonnici, and the highest government authorities.

La Valletta. Malta. The solemn Mass concelebrated by the Cardinalis Patronus, His Eminence Rev.ma Pio Laghi, the Prelate of the Order, H.E. Msgr. Donato de Bonis, the Archbishop of Malta, and numerous Prelates and Chaplains of the Order, in the presence of H.M.E.H. the Prince and Grand Master, Fra’ Andrew Bertie, the President of the Republic, Ugo Mifsud Bonnici, the Sovereign Council and of the maximum authorities of the Maltese Government. About 900 Knights and Dames coming from all over the world participated.

His Eminence Cardinalis Patronus, Pio Laghi, read the message from the Holy Father, in which he expressed his "appreciation for the activities carried out by the Order and the fidelity demonstrated, throughout the march of history, to the original evangelical inspiration of tuitio fidei, obsequium pauperum" hoping that "the anniversary of its ninth centenary of life could be a spur for all to continue to defend these ideals on the threshold of the Third Millennium". After the mass, the General Assembly was held in the Republic Hall of the Mediterranean Conference Centre in the presence of the Prince and Grand Master, the President of Malta and the Cardinalis Patronus, during which H.M.E.H. formally opened the Jubilee Year which will end in December 1999. In his address, H.M.E.H. urged all those present to work together "to enhance our attempts to alleviate suffering in the world". He pointed out that "the increasing recognition under international law and full diplomatic relations with over 80 states are the results of the humanitarian action the Order conducts in every part of the world regardless of race, religious belief or politics". The Grand Master then thanked the President of the Republic, the government and the Maltese people for the hospitality which has enabled opening the Order’s ninth centenary "on that island which has been so closely linked to us, and for which many of us have a great affection." His Highness also expressed his gratitude to the Committee appointed by the Grand Magistry, chaired by H.E. the Grand Chancellor, Amb. Count Carlo Marullo di Condojanni, and to the Communication Secretary, Gian Luigi Rondi Nasalli, for the organisation of the gathering. The Assembly continued with the Grand Chancellor’s speech which did not only describe the Constitutional Charter and Code’s rules, but also the image of the Knight of the Third Millennium. A simple man, with great ideals, who does not want to reach goals just for vanity. Always ready to act as mediator to foster peace and who is always humble; but at the same time eager to work in the community and in prayer. The Grand Chancellor then dwelt for a moment on the need of prayer in the world, inviting everybody to implement, during the Order’s jubilee year, charity works and pilgrimages to their own holy places

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