The Grand Magistry has received numerous heartfelt messages of condolence after the sudden death last Tuesday of the Lieutenant of the Grand Master, Fra’ Marco Luzzago. For the 18 months he was head the Order of Malta, Fra’ Marco Luzzago was appreciated for his friendly and sincere nature, for his spirituality and dedication to the Order’s mission, remembered in many of these messages.

Pope Francis offered his condolences to the relatives of the Lieutenant of the Grand Master and to the entire Order of Malta with a telegram saying he was “spiritually sharing in the grief at the sudden passing” of Fra’ Marco Luzzago. The pope remembered “his commitment generously lavished in the performance of his high office in the service of this institution, as well as his love for the Church and luminous Christian witness,” invoking eternal peace for him and imparting his blessing.

The Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, also expressed his participation in the “grave mourning” and assured his prayers for “such a faithful son of the Church, who worked with such generous commitment for the promotion of perennial Christian values”.

In his message of condolence, the President of the Italian Republic, Sergio Mattarella, recalled how “Fra’ Marco Luzzago had encouraged with profound humanity the assistance initiatives the Order’s promotes at a global level, with particular attention to the ongoing consequences of the pandemic and the terrible suffering caused by the tragic events of the war in Ukraine”.

In addition to the telegrams of condolences from the authorities, the Grand Magistry has received numerous messages and expressions of sympathy and sorrow from the Order of Malta’s assisted, members, volunteers and chaplains worldwide to commemorate the figure of Fra’ Marco Luzzago and his work.