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Voormalig Prins en Vorst Grootmeester van de
Maltezer Orde: fra' Andrew Bertie |
The feast of
St. John the Baptist, our holy Patron, in the year in which we celebrate nine
centuries of the Order's life, is the most propitious occasion not only for
recalling the long journey we have made but also to outline the commitments we
feel we should make for the Third Millenium. In the past centuries we have
defended the Faith and helped those who needed us - the sick, the poor and the
oppressed - without making any distinction of nationality or opinion. In peace
and war, in our turn oppressed, but always with the help of Providence able to
rise again. Rising to follow those ideals which have seen us religious, soldiers
and hospitallers, but with a single vocation that has always kept us closely
united to the Church of Rome.
Today we have the same
commitments. But to meet them, as history rolls on, we have to adapt day by day
to the ever changing conditions of society around us. Society which in many
cases , determines our action that must be hold, if necessary, in opposing what
offends the Catholic faith.
We are also committed
to the defence of human life. We build hospitals, we treat the sick, we never
hesitate to put ourselfs in the front wherever war breaks out, never taking
sides, already ready, with concrete interventions, to meet the needs of the
wounded, the refugees and the homeless. We mobilise our forces worldwide, as we
did and are still doing in the Balkans, in the manifold situations in which we
need to relieve the suffering and hardship of the many refugees still in painful
circumstances.
But it is also our
duty, besides crying out 'war on war', to shout 'war on death' firmly and
fearlessly. We make no distinction between the tragedies committed in battle in
the name of racial hatred and the many deaths occurring where capital punishment
is still in force, even in very civilised countries.
Just as abortion is
still committed in observance of the same law. The Order of Malta, approaching
its tenth century of life must oppose these uncivilised acts, because it is not
enough for us to treat the wounded in wars, the sick in hospitals and the
refugees in the camps: life has to be defended everywhere and always.
War on death, but also
war on those who would like to see the death of Faith. Defending the Faith, 'tuitio
fidei', with 'obsequium pauperum' - helping the need - is one of the
cornerstones of our centuries-old action. Today the Order is a convinced
supporter of ecumenism that unites not only Christians, but all religious
spirits in the world. This is precisely why we firmly oppose those on the
religious sidelines who have created movements and authentic sects, often for
profit-making aims, that distort Christ's truth, damage their adepts and on many
occasions violate laws and morality. The Knights of Malta should be ready to
take up arms against these so that Faith can live, especially in these times of
false prophets and 'angels of darkness' who come in the guise of 'angels of
light'.
Therefore, after nine
centuries, we are facing the same commitments that have always guided us. It is
our duty to meet them with courage and strength in that Third Millenium awaiting
us with 'duties unknown to other ages' as announced by Pius XII
In het bericht van de
Communication Officer van de Orde, Gian Luigi Rondi Nasalli, van 28 juni 1999
staat verder te lezen:
The morning of 26.
June, H.M.E.H. the Prince and Grand Master, with the Members of the Sovereign
Council, made a solemn visit to the Holy Father, received in the Vatican with
State honours. After a private conversation in the Holy Father's study, the
Grand Master met in the Apostolic Palace His Eminence Cardinal Angelo Sodano,
Secretary of State. The Prelate of the Order, H.E. Mgr. Donato de Bonis , and
the Order's Ambassador to the Holy See H.E. Stefan Falez were also present.
The visit to the Holy
Father was preceded by a ceremony in the Magistral Palace for conferring the
collar of the Ordine Piano, reserved for Heads of States, brought to him by the
deputy Secretary of State H.E. Mgr. Giovanni Battista Re.
