VATICAN CITY
Reuters
By Philip Pullella | VATICAN CITY
Pope Francis on Thursday ordered an investigation into the ousting of the deputy head of the ancient order the Knights of Malta, who an Italian newspaper said was sacked for promoting the use of condoms in the developing world.
A Vatican statement said a five-member committee had been tasked with looking into the ousting of Albrecht Freiherr von Boeselager, whose official title was Grand Chancellor. The statement did not elaborate.
The ancient chivalric order, which today runs charities, hospitals and disaster relief in about 120 countries, said in its own statement this month that von Boeselager, a German, was dismissed by Grand Master Matthew Festing after twice refusing orders to step down.
It cited “grave problems” that had occurred under von Boeselager when he was in a previous position and said he had kept these issues hidden from the order’s leaders when he was named Grand Chancellor.
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