Rome, October 2012. Statement of Clarification from HRH The Grand Master and HE The Cardinal Grand Prior of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of St George.

“We welcome the helpful re-publication by the Vatican Secretariat of State of its position concerning the recognition by the Holy See of numerous Equestrian Orders. This position is longstanding, well understood and appreciated by the Grand Master and Grand Prior of the Constantinian Order.

“Such positions do not effect the Constantinian Order which is neither an Order of the Holy See or under the protection of the Holy See. As is well known the Constantinian Order is an internationally recognised dynastic Catholic Order of Knighthood of the Royal House of Bourbon Two Sicilies which undertakes faith-based charitable, humanitarian and hospitaller activities throughout Italy and overseas.

“The Constantinian Order in 2013 will mark 50 years of formal recognition by the Italian State by decree of successive Presidents of the Italian Republic. The Constantinian Order also maintains Consultative Status of the Economic and Social Council at the United Nations in New York, Geneva and Vienna and its decorations are recognised by many governments throughout the world.

“The Constantinian Order is a subject of canon law approved and confirmed in numerous Papal Bulls and Letters, most recently in the Pontificates of Popes Pius X and Benedict XV. Its status has not changed and its continued legal existence as an Order of Chivalry has been confirmed by both the Italian Republic, the Kingdom of Spain and other nations, all of whom recognise and authorise its awards.

“In 2003 the Holy Father, Pope John Paul II, appointed His Eminence Mario Francesco Cardinal Pompedda as the Ecclesiastical Counsellor of the Constantinian Order under the grandmastership of HRH The Duke of Castro, and today the Order maintains a good working relationship with the Catholic Church throughout Italy and overseas. The current Grand Prior of the Constantinian Order is His Eminence Renato Raffaele, Cardinal Martino, who succeeded His Eminence Alberto Cardinal Vanhoye in 2010.

“All three Cardinals have been appointed as Grand Priors with the written approval of the Vatican Secretariat of State. The Order’s knights and dames also benefit from the longstanding spiritual guidance of numerous cardinals, archbishops, bishops and clergy across the world.

“It is our understanding that those Orders, such as the Constantinian Order, which are approved under Article 7 and 8 of the Law number 178 of 3 March 1951 of the Italian Republic are excluded from the restrictions outlined in the Holy See’s statement.

“It is also our understanding that the recent clarification issued by the Secretariat of State is solely concerned with those unrecognised bodies that claim some unsubstantiated historical origins and assume the names of ancient Orders”.

Carlo of Bourbon Two Sicilies, Duke of Castro, Grand Master,

Renato Raffaele, Cardinal Martino, Grand Prior,

Issued by the Grand Magistry of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of St George, Rome,

To view the statement of the Holy See please visit
http: www.news.va/en/news/note-of-clarification-from-the-secretariat-of-stat

London, August 2012. The Delegate Anthony Bailey extends his very best wishes to all our knights and dames across the Muslim world as they celebrate the end of the holy month of Ramadan and the period of reflection, spiritual contemplation and consideration of others.

We wish them all a very happy, peaceful and prosperous Eid ul Fitr. Eid Mubarak.

Vatican City, March 2012. His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI appointed on 15 March 2012 His Eminence Edwin Frederick, Cardinal O’Brien, as the new Grand Master of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem.

Cardinal O’Brien was invested into the Constantinian Order as a Ecclesiastical Knight Grand Cross of Grace of the Constantinian Order within the United States Delegation by decree of the late Grand Master, HRH Prince Ferdinando, Duke of Castro, on 19 September 2002. Read more…

Dublin, March 2012. The 50th Eucharistic Congress will be held at the Royal Dublin Society from 10 – 17 June 2012 in Dublin. A Eucharistic Congress is an international gathering of people which aims to:

• promote an awareness of the central place of the Eucharist in the life and mission of the Catholic Church
• help improve our understanding and celebration of the liturgy
• draw attention to the social dimension of the Eucharist

The Congress normally takes place every four years. The daily celebration of the Eucharist is at the very heart of the Congress. The wider programme of the Congress includes other liturgical events, cultural events, catechesis and testimonies, and workshops during the week of the Congress. Read more…

Rome, 28 February 2012. By decree of the Grand Master, HRH The Duke of Castro, His Majesty King George V Tupou of Tonga was invested as a Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Order of Francis I in recognition of the warm ties, which exist between the two Royal dynasties.

The Tongan monarch, who is a Methodist, was also awarded the Gold Benemerenti Medal of the Constantinian Order in recognition of King George’s efforts to defend and protect the Christian faith in Tonga and for his global contribution to further greater inter-religious understanding. Read more…

Rome, 28 February 2012. The Grand Prior of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of St George, His Eminence Renato Raffaele, Cardinal Martino, representing the Grand Master, received in Rome the Tongan Head of State, His Majesty King George V Tupou.

His Eminence and His Majesty held cordial talks on furthering co-operation between the Constantinian Order and the Kingdom of Tonga. Cardinal Martino recalled his past visit to Tonga – a country where Roman Catholics in the south pacific nation number some 16%. The King also paid tribute to the role and contribution of the Catholic community to Tongan society. Read more…

Vatican City – February 2012. The Delegation of Great Britain and Ireland has extended its warmest congratulations to our Constantinian confrere, Cardinal Timothy Dolan, Archbishop of New York, on his elevation to the Sacred College of Cardinals. Pope Benedict XVI made the announcement on 6 January 2012.

Archbishop Timothy Dolan was formally created a cardinal at the consistory of the Church held on 18 February 2012.

Cardinal Dolan was first invested into the Constantinian Order by decree of HRH Prince Ferdinand, Duke of Castro, in 2001. He holds the rank of Ecclesiastical Knight Grand Cross of Grace of the Constantinian Order.

London, February 2012. Sir Sigmund Sternberg awarded the 2012 Sternberg Foundation Interfaith Gold Medallion to our Delegate HE Mr Anthony Bailey at a ceremony held at his London home in the presence of several Ambassadors to the Court of St James’s, friends, family and several knights and dames of the Delegation.

This high distinction was granted following the unanimous decision of the award judges. According to Sir Sigmund, it was granted ‘in recognition of Anthony Bailey’s many years of endeavour and exceptional contribution to the improvement of understanding between the faiths in the United Kingdom and across the world’. Read more…