The Order of Malta dissociates itself from the content of the book and strongly condemns the vile attack against the Pope

Rome 21 March 2018 – Following the press articles reporting the name of the author of the book “The Dictator Pope” the Grand Magistry of the Order of Malta has taken the decision to suspend Henry Sire, author of the book and member of the Order of Malta. The provisional suspension from membership has immediate effect and an investigation is being launched.

The content of the book “The Dictator Pope” does not reflect in any way the positions and beliefs of the Order of Malta and the author is not speaking on behalf of the Order. In particular, the chapter on the institutional crisis in the government of the Order at the end of 2016 is based on a biased and one-sided reconstruction of events.

The Order of Malta dissociates itself from the positions conveyed and considers the content of the book a grave offence to His Holiness, Pope Francis.

Sire lived at the Grand Magistry Palace whilst carrying out research for a book on the history of the Order of Malta – The Knights of Malta: a modern resurrection- published in 2016. He was never appointed in any official role within the Order’s functioning bodies and had a research contract. He left the Grand Magistry in May 2017.