The Chapter of Professed, the body that meets before the Chapter General, as provided for in Article 31 of the new Constitutional Charter of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, opened last night at a retreat house outside of Rome.

The Chapter of Professed – composed of the Professed Knights and Chaplains – is presided over by the Lieutenant of the Grand Master Fra’ John Dunlap and Cardinal Silvano Maria Tomasi, Special Delegate of the Pope. It is attended by 32 Professed Knights and Chaplains and has the task of drawing up the binding lists for the election of the Grand Commander, Grand Chancellor, Grand Hospitaller and Receiver of the Common Treasure to be presented to the Extraordinary Chapter General. The Chapter of Professed also elects the five Professed members who will serve on the Sovereign Council as councillors for the years 2023-2029.

The Chapter of Professed will end on 21st January and will be followed by the Extraordinary Chapter General starting on Wednesday 25th January 2023, also near Rome.