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“Peregrinationes” Accademia Internazionale Melitense
TOMO I –
Anno Accademico I MM - Acta et documenta
“The arrival of the Knights of St. John in Malta"
International Meeting July 31, 2000 – Malta, Fort St. Angelo Introduction “L'Accademia Internazionale Melitense a Forte
Sant'Angelo” Having held the office as Receiver of the Common Treasure - and the
related office of Conservator of the Magistral Residences - for a long time, I
had already coped with certain issues that, although not exactly falling within
the Order's institutional objectives, were nevertheless related to them, as
they concerned specially the safeguard of the historic and cultural heritages. Among these issues, two were of crucial importance: the first one
concerned the preservation of books and documents, and was solved when we had
the opportunity to set up a large library in the Magione Castle, that could
host the existing books, and also had room for the books and documents that
might become part of the Order's assets as donations from illustrious families.
The second and more complicated issue concerned the preservation of the
historic records kept in the archives of the Order's Embassies, National
Associations and Delegations, which for the most part were meant to be under
the exclusive custody of the holders of the respective offices as long as they
were in such office, then they would remain with the family documents without
any assurance of protection. As a matter of fact, over the past two centuries
this situation caused the loss of any record of the many activities carried out
by the Order in the world, no trace of which remains in the existing archives;
and while a few mementoes remain in the minds of older people, it is more or
less impossible to trace the documentation. It seemed that, in spite of the
attempts made, no final solution could be found to this problem. For a long time I tried to promote initiatives to solve this problem,
but shortage of funds only allowed me to channel every possible information
into the "International Review" that, adequately renewed in 1991, has
become a testimony of activities throughout the nineties for future historians.
Important information on the initiatives carried out by the Order and on its
evolution in the closing years of the past Millennium can only be found in the
Review. A limited source but, for want of something better, sufficiently
effective until future possibilities could present themselves in the already
foreseeable future. The final solution to the problem appeared to me when, after
the signature of the preliminary agreement with the Maltese Government for the
concession of Fort St. Angel in the early nineties, I became Extraordinary
Commissioner for the restoration works in 1995. As soon as the works were
started, and their first phase completed with the restoration of the Chapel of
St. Anne, the Magistral Palace and its surroundings, I tried to find a seat
within the Magistral Palace to establish an International Academy. The Academy
was intended to have, among other purposes, that of cataloguing and documenting
past and contemporary facts and events of the Order, and of achieving a better
qualification of the Order's diplomatic service through the creation of an
international reference archive and the opportunity to provide training courses
for future officials. This volume, dedicated to the Convention on "The arrival of the
Knights of St. John in Malta" is printed today, almost a decade after the
concession of Fort St. Angel by the Maltese Government to the Order. This is
the first Convention being organised by our Academy to collect and spread
opinions and facts connected with the life of the Order of St. John. As the
first Rector of the Accademia Internazionale Melitense, I am extremely pleased
to present this volume, which is the first one being published in the series
entitled "Peregrinationes", wdhich was create in order to circulate
the proceedings of the activities which take place on the initiative of the Accademia
Internazionale Melitense. I also wish to thank Prof. Paolo Caucci von Saucken,
Comm. Fra' John Edward Critien, and the publisher, Mr. Franco Benucci, for
their valuable collaboration and for having patiently endured the laborious
task of editing and publishing this book which was made possible through the
generous contribution of the Banca dell'Umbria. I take this opportunity to make an appeal to all the high officers of
the Order, the Grand Priors, the Priors, the Regents, the Presidents of
National Associations and the Heads of the Order's Institutions, asking them to
support the initiatives that will follow in the wake of the purest historical
and cultural traditions of the Order. I am happy to have been able to give Fort St. Angelo a new lease of
life to, thanks to the project for the Accademia Internazionale Melitense, a
new lease of life which is deeply rooted in the past and determinedly going
forward with objectives that have already been defined under the enlightened
guidance of H.M.E.H. the Prince and Grand Master Fra' Andrew Bertie. I pray the Holy Virgin of Filermo and Saint John the Baptist to guide
the steps of those who will be called to serve this new institution. May they
always be at their side during the difficult journey along the cultural and scientific
routes of the world.
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