First working meeting yesterday morning between the Lieutenant of the Grand Master Fra’ Marco Luzzago and the Pope’s Special Delegate, Cardinal-elect Silvano Maria Tomasi, C.S. Also attending were the Grand Commander Fra’ Ruy Gonçalo do Valle Peixoto de Villas-Boas.

The focus of the meeting in the Magistral Palace in Rome was the constitutional reform, the definition of priorities and the next steps.

There was general agreement on the need to proceed swiftly and convene the Chapter General to approve the reform during the mandate entrusted to the Lieutenant of the Grand Master.

Fra’ Marco Luzzago reiterated his resolve to ‘launch the reform, especially with regards to the Order’s First Class. These members represent the heart and the priority of the reform and thus also of my mandate.  The work will continue in the wake of what has already been done by Grand Master Fra’ Giacomo Dalla Torre del Tempio di Sanguinetto’.

The Special Delegate confirmed his agreement ‘with the Order of Malta’s intention to adopt rules that make its response to the challenges of modern society more effective, strengthening its religious identity and extending its mission of serving the poor and sick’. This consolidation of its religious identity ‘is based on the religious members’ ever constant commitment to the Order’s life with the vows they took and their choice of consecrated life. The way forward,’ he concluded, ‘is to seek the widest possible consensus, in an atmosphere of mutual trust, without however forgetting the priorities.’

At the end of the meeting, in view of the imminent consistory in which Pope Francis will create him cardinal, on behalf of the entire Order of Malta, Fra’ Marco Luzzago offered Cardinal-elect Silvano Tomasi ‘the sincerest felicitations and good wishes for a prolific ministry rich in spiritual fruits for the good of the Church and the Order of Malta’.