ROME
Settimo Cielo
Sandro Magister
For April 29, a meeting has been scheduled in Rome of the Council Complete of State among the Professed Knights, the organ that according to statute will proceed with the election of the new Grand Master of the Order of Malta.
As is known, the previous Grand Master, Fra’ Matthew Festing of England, delivered his resignation on January 24 into the hands of Pope Francis, in obedience to his command.
Since then, the supreme authority of the Order has been represented, in the capacity of interim lieutenant, by Grand Commander Fra’ Ludwig Hoffmann von Rumerstein.
On February 4, however, Pope Francis also placed over the Order his own Special Delegate and “exclusive spokesman,” de facto endowed with full powers, in the person of Archbishop Angelo Becciu, substitute secretary of state.
The following letter is glaring proof of the exercise of these full powers.
In the name of the pope, Becciu prohibits the former Grand Master from taking part in the election of his successor. Not only that. He even forbids him to go to Rome on the occasion of the conclave.
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