A holy mass in memory of the Prince and 80th Grand Master of the Sovereign Order of Malta, Fra’ Giacomo Dalla Torre del Tempio di Sanguinetto, was held this morning, Saturday 7 November, in the Basilica dei SS. Bonifacio e Alessio in Rome.
The service was celebrated by the Cardinal-elect and Special Delegate of the Holy Father to the Sovereign Order of Malta, Silvano Maria Tomasi, and by the Prelate of the Order, Jean Laffitte.
Present with the Lieutenant ad interim, Fra’ Ruy Gonçalo do Valle Peixoto de Villas-Boas, were participants in the Council Complete of State meeting in Rome to elect a new Grand Master or Lieutenant of the Grand Master. The Council Complete of State will begin in the afternoon of 7 November in the Magistral Villa. The most stringent protocols dictated by the current health situation will be applied.
The Special Delegate recalled the figure of Fra’ Giacomo Dalla Torre del Tempio di Sanguinetto, head of the Order of Malta from April 2017 to April 2020: “Fra’ Giacomo Dalla Torre was a humble man, very religious, honest, determined to carry on the good of the Order. He left us a great example to follow. If we walk on the path he showed us, we should not be afraid, we can build together a future that reflects the achievements of the past and reflects the continuity of evangelical inspiration and loyal service to those most in need”. Monsignor Tomasi also prayed that ” God’s grace and light may make us walk on the right path and at the same time give us the will and energy to continue on the journey. The ancient and venerable Sovereign Order of Malta, in its process of adjustment, feels the need above all for the Holy Spirit to be present in order to make the exchange of ideas and proposals fruitful, so that it may result in effective rejuvenation and the joy of rediscovering the mission “Tuitio Fidei et Obsequium Pauperum”. We are rooted in a long tradition of faith and charity but also open to the future”.
The Covid19 pandemic had meant that it has not yet been possible to celebrate a state funeral for Fra’ Giacomo Dalla Torre del Tempio di Sanguinetto, who died on 29 April last following a short illness.
